WSSD.INFO NEWS

 

WSSD Info. News

ISSUE # 10 (A)
“A SNAP-SHOT OF THE SUMMIT” - GENERAL NEWS

Issue # 10 (A) ~ Issue # 10 (B) ~ Issue # 10 (C) ~ Issue # 10 (D) ~ Issue # 10 (E)

Compiled by Richard Sherman

Edited by Kimo Goree 

Published by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD)

Distributed exclusively to the 2002SUMMIT-L list by IISD Reporting Services

For more information on the WSSD, visit IISD's Linkages Portal at http://wssd.info

Editor's note: Welcome to the tenth and final issue of WSSD.Info News, compiled by Richard Sherman. WSSD.Info News is an exclusive publication of IISD for the 2002SUMMIT-L list and should not be reposted or republished to other lists/websites without the permission of IISD (you can write Kimo for permission.) If you have been forwarded this issue and would like to subscribe to 2002SUMMIT-L, please visit http://iisd.ca/scripts/lyris.pl?join=2002summit-l.

Funding for the production of WSSD.Info News (part of the IISD Reporting Services annual program) has been provided by The Netherlands Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Government of Canada (through CIDA), the United States (through USAID), the Swiss Agency for Environment, Forests and Landscape (SAEFL), the United Kingdom (through the Department for International Development - DFID), the European Commission (DG-ENV), the Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and the Government of Germany (through German Federal Ministry of Environment - BMU, and the German Federal Ministry of Development Cooperation - BMZ). General Support for the Bulletin during 2002 is provided by the Ministries of Foreign Affairs and Environment of Finland, the Government of Australia, the Ministry of Environment and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Sweden, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade of New Zealand, the Ministries of Foreign Affairs and Environment of Norway, Swan International, and the Japanese Ministry of Environment (through the Institute for Global Environmental Strategies – IGES). If you like WSSD.Info News, please thank them for their support.

GENERAL NEWS

  1. EUROPEAN FISHERIES MINISTERS TO REMEMBER THE COMMITMENTS MADE AT WSSD, WWF URGES WWF 20 September 2002

  2. PAST YEAR A CHALLENGING ONE FOR 'GROUP OF 77' DEVELOPING COUNTRIES, ANNAN SAYS United Nations News19 September 2002

  3. SUMMIT FAILS TO SET CONCRETE GOALS Daily Yomiuri 17 September 2002

  4. SEYCHELLES REINFORCES LEADERSHIP ROLE IN SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT AT WSSD Seychelles Online 16 September 2002

  5. WORLD SUMMIT ON SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT CALL TO EXECUTE JOHANNESBURG PLAN OF IMPLEMENTATION Daily Star 16 September 2002

  6. 'SUSTAINED DISAPPOINTMENT' AFTER JOHANNESBURG NGOS CONDEMN FAILURE TO PUSH THROUGH GERMAN DEMANDS Frankfurter Allgemeine 13 September 2002

  7. TAIWAN TO MAKE ECOLOGY A QUESTION OF DIPLOMACY Taipei Times 13 September 2002

  8. BUSINESS AND U.N. RECOGNIZE SUSTAINABLE PARTNERSHIPS GreenBiz.com via ENN 12 September 2002

  9. MIXED RESULTS FOR DEVELOPING COUNTRIES AT EARTH SUMMIT – NICHOLSON Jamaica Observer 12 September 2002

  10. WORLD SUMMIT THE FIRST TIME WALES HAS BEEN REPRESENTED ON GLOBAL STAGE BY AN ELECTED LEADER The Western Mail (Wales) 11 September 2002

  11. JOHANNESBURG SUMMIT HIGHLIGHTS RICH-POOR GAP Daily Yomiuri 11 September 2002

  12. BERKELEY'S SISTER CITY WINS UN AWARD AT THE WORLD SUMMIT A BRIGHT SPOT AT THE SUMMIT SHINES ON A VILLAGE IN BORNEO The Borneo Project 11 September 2002

  13. NGOS SAY EARTH SUMMIT STARTING POINT FOR ACTION E-Taiwan News 10 September 2002

  14. EBTEKAR ASSESSES OUTCOME OF WORLD EARTH SUMMIT AS POSITIVE IRNA 10 September 2002

  15. TAIWAN SCORES SUCCESS AT SUMMIT Taipei Times 10 September 2002

  16. SUMMIT ENDORSES ROLE OF SPACE ESA 9 September 2002

  17. NATION BACKS UP SUMMIT PLANS China Daily 9 September 2002

  18. TECHNOLOGY AS A TOOL OF DIPLOMACY Taipei Times 9 September 2002

  19. DESAI HAILS JO'BURG SUMMIT MMEGI 9 September 2002

  20. KID SETS WORLD LEADERS STRAIGHT HALIFAX BOY TALKS ABOUT HEALTH, ENVIRONMENT, POVERTY AT JOHANNESBURG CONFERENCE The Daily News 8 September 2002

  21. UN BLOCKS FUTURE EARTH SUMMITS Independent 8 September 2002

  22. A DECADE AFTER FIRST EARTH SUMMIT, RIO WONDERING WHAT WAS ACCOMPLISHED Associated Press 7 September 2002

  23. WORLD SUMMIT CONCLUDES WITH CALLS TO ACTION Europaworld 6 September 2002

  24. JOHANNESBURG SUMMIT: A TRIUMPH OR A DISASTER? International Herald Tribune 6 September 2002

  25. GREENPEACE PROTESTS EARTH SUMMIT ATOP RIO'S CHRIST Hindustan Times 6 September 2002

  26. BHOPAL GAS TRAGEDY ATTRACTS ATTENTION AT SUMMIT News India 6 September 2002

  27. WSSD MET AFRICA'S EXPECTATIONS: MBEKI BuaNews (Pretoria) 5 September 2002

  28. US PLEDGES TO HARNESS SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY BY INCREASING FUNDING TO AFRICAN FARMERS Zambian News Agency 5 September 2002

  29. IRAN WANTS ACTION ON WSSD PLANS SABC News 5 September 2002

  30. EARTH SUMMIT WON'T SAVE PLANET, BUT MIGHT HELP The Financial Gazette 5 September 2002

  31. WORLD PRESS SPLIT OVER JOHANNESBURG SUMMIT BBC 5 September 2002

  32. PALAU FAULTS EARTH SUMMIT ON GLOBAL WARMING Planet Ark 5 September 2002

  33. BREAKAWAY BLOC SETS ITSELF TOUGHER TARGETS WEAKNESS OF FINAL STATEMENT SPURS 30 COUNTRIES, INCLUDING THE EU, TO GO IT ALONE ON GREEN ENERGY The Guardian 5 September 2002

  34. POOR COUNTRIES SHOULD FOCUS ON MORE THAN REMOVING AGRICULTURAL SUBSIDIES, WTO CHIEF SAYS Associated Press 5 September 2002

  35. WORLD SUMMIT FALLS SHORT ON RECYCLING AND EMISSION REDUCTION Associated Press 5 September 2002

  36. WHAT HAS WSSD DONE FOR AGRICULTURE? SABC News 5 September 2002

  37. SUMMIT ENDS IN BROAD PLEDGE ON WORLD GOALS ENVIRONMENTALISTS PROTEST 'COMPROMISES' IN ACCORD; POWELL IS TARGET OF JEERING International Herald Tribune 5 September 2002

  38. JOHANNESBURG: GOOD PROGRESS OR SUMMIT OF SHAMEFUL DEALS? Euractiv 5 September 2002

  39. WE HAVE NOT LIVED UP TO: EXPECTATIONS – CHAVEZ The Post (Lusaka) 5 September 2002 

  40. JO'BURG SUMMIT MAY PROVE TO BE A DAMP SQUIB Financial Express 5 September 2002

  41. COUNTRIES TAKE ACTION ON INTERNATIONAL TREATIES DURING JUST-CONCLUDED UN SUMMIT United Nations News 5 September 2002

  42. 'GOOD IN PARTS' IS THE FINAL VERDICT ON THE WSSD SABCnews.com (Johannesburg) 5 September 2002

  43. EARTH SUMMIT PRODUCED 290,000 TONS CARBON DIOXIDE Reuters 5 September 2002

  44. SUMMIT'S FAILED HOPES BBC 4 September 2002

  45. THE BUBBLE-AND-SQUEAK SUMMIT The Economist4 September 2002

  46. EARTH SUMMIT AGREES HEALTH CARE IS HUMAN RIGHT Reuters 4 September 2002

  47. EARTH SUMMIT MARKS SHIFTS IN ADDRESSING POPULATION Reuters 4 September 2002

  48. "EARTH SUMMIT" PLAN OF ACTION APPROVED Environment News Service 4 September 2002

  49. ANALYSIS - EARTH SUMMIT DEAL-A GREY DAY FOR GREEN ENERGY?  Planet Ark 4 September 2002

  50. EARTH SUMMIT" ADOPTS ACTION PLAN WRAPPED IN CONTROVERSY Environment News Service 4 September 2002

  51. WORLD SUMMIT ENDS WITH SWEEPING VISION, SLOW PROGRESS ON SAVING PLANET Associated Press 4 September 2002

  52. KEY WORLD SUMMIT INITIATIVES Associated Press4 September 2002

  53. BUSINESS WELCOMES WSSD ACTION PLAN iAfrica4 September 2002

  54. EARTH SUMMITEERS CAST DOUBT ON FUTURE WORLD MEETSReuters4 September 2002

  55. DELEGATES PUT FINISHING TOUCHES ON UN JOHANNESBURG SUMMIT ACTION PLAN United Nations News3 September 2002

  56. BOTSWANA TO PRESENT REPORT AT WORLD SUMMIT Botswana Government3 September 2002

  57. OBASANJO INSISTS ON DEBT REMISSION Daily Times of Nigeria3 September 2002

  58. EARTH SUMMIT DEAL SNAGGED ON WOMEN'S RIGHTS Reuters via abc.news.com3 September 2002

  59. ACTION PLAN OF SUMMIT LOOKS WEAK TO ACTIVISTS International Herald Tribune 3 September 2002

  60. QUOTES FROM LEADERS AT THE WORLD SUMMIT Associated Press3 September 2002

  61. EARTH SUMMIT: AFTER DAYS OF INTENSE NEGOTIATIONS, LEADERS SETTLE ON A BLUEPRINT TO KEEP THE PLANET ALIVE Independent 3 September 2002

  62. SA MINISTERS HAIL FINAL WSSD TEXT South African Press Association (Johannesburg) 3 September 2002

  63. PEOPLE DEMAND PROGRESS, MBEKI TELLS WORLD LEADERS Environment News Service 3 September 2002

  64. CARIBBEAN MARGINALISED AT EARTH SUMMIT Jamaica Observer 2 September 2002

  65. WORLD SUMMIT AGREES ON POVERTY PLAN Associated Press 2 September 2002

  66. WORLD OIL SUMMIT LONG ON PLEDGES TO BETTER PROTECT THE ENVIRONMENT Associated Press 2 September 2002

  67. KOFI ANNAN CALLS ON RICH NATIONS TO LEAD THE WAY Inter Press Service 2 September 2002

  68. ANNAN URGES BUSINESS TO PRESS AHEAD ON NEW IDEAS BASD 2 September 2002

  69. SUMMIT OFFICIALS CALL FOR IMMEDIATE ACTION TO STOP BIODIVERSITY LOSS, BIODIVERSITY SEEN AS INSURANCE POLICY FOR LIFE ITSELF Washington File 2 September 2002

  70. EARTH SUMMIT AGREES ON ENERGY, GREENS IRATE Reuters 2 September 2002

  71. BUSINESS NEEDS LONG TERM VIEW ON DEVELOPING WORLD-FIORINA Dow Jones Business News 2 September 2002

  72. UK, FRANCE COMMIT TO EXTRA EUR200 MILLION IN NEW DEVELOPMENT AID Dow Jones Business News 2 September 2002

  73. LAST GASP ON WSSD DEAL AS HEADS OF STATE ARRIVE SABC News 1 September 2002

  74. NEGOTIATORS UPBEAT AFTER REACHING AGREEMENT ON CLIMATE CHANGE, TRADE Associated Press 1 September 2002

  75. CHILDREN TO CHALLENGE WORLD LEADERS AT JOHANNESBURG SUMMIT FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT – UN United Nations News 1 September 2002

  76. GLOBAL FORUM DEMANDS CONCRETE ACTION FROM WSSD SABC News 31 August 2002

  77. EBTEKAR CHAIRS WORLD SUMMIT ON SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT IRNA 31 August 2002

  78. EARTH SUMMIT TO GET PERSONAL WHEN LEADERS FLY IN Reuters 30 August 2002

  79. JOHANNESBURG: AGREEMENTS AND DISAGREEMENTS Edie Weekly Summaries 30 August 2002

  80. UAE OFFERS $1M FOR ANY PIONEERING WORK AT EARTH SUMMIT Gulf News 30 August 2002

  81. GULF NEWS SAYS: AN OVERLY AMBITIOUS TARGET Gulf News 30 August 2002

  82. WORLD SUMMIT OFFERS HISTORIC OPPORTUNITY - US OFFICIAL The NEWS (Monrovia) via All Africa 30 August 2002

  83. UN OFFICIALS CHALLENGE JOHANNESBURG FORUM TO INVEST MORE RESOURCES TO FIGHT GLOBAL ILLS United Nations News 30 August 2002

  84. JOHANNESBURG: UN FORUM TURNS TO PARTNERSHIPS FOR IMPLEMENTING GOALS United Nation News 29 August 2002

  85. JOHANNESBURG SUMMIT: JAN PRONK EMPHASIZES BUILDING OF NEW PARTNERSHIPS The Earth Times 29 August 2002

  86. JEFFREY SACHS: 'ACCOUNTABILITY OF PROMISES MADE BY DONOR GOVERNMENTS AT RIO IS THE KEY TO SUCCESS' The Earth Times 29 August 2002

  87. A DECADE LATER, OPTIMISM PREVAILS AT EARTH SUMMIT Financial Express 29 August 2002

  88. JOHANNESBURG SUMMIT: EUROPEAN GREENS PRESENT DEMANDS FOR ENVIRONMENTAL PROGRESS Earth Times 29 August 2002

  89. MALTESE DELEGATION KICKS OFF PARTICIPATION AT WORLD SUMMIT MM News 29 August 2002

  90. JOHANNESBURG SUMMIT: SUMMIT DEADLOCKED OVER FARM SUBSIDIES International Herald Tribune 29 August 2002

  91. SPECIFIC EARTH SUMMIT COMMITMENTS BACKED IN POLL Reuters via Forbes 29 August 2002

  92. WOMEN JOURNALISTS CALL ON AFRICAN LEADERS TO ACT URGENTLY ON AIDS Daily News 29 August 2002

  93. MANDELA PLEADS FOR POOR AT EARTH SUMMIT ABS –CBNNEWS 29 August 2002

  94. MALDIVES LEADER LEAVES FOR EARTH SUMMIT WITH SINKING FEELING IAfirca 29 August 2002

  95. MBEKI: END 'GLOBAL APARTHEID' CNN 29 August 2002

  96. U.S. PUSHES 'PARTNERSHIPS' AT EARTH SUMMIT Reuters 29 August 2002

  97. EARTH SUMMIT CONFRONTS GLOBAL WATER CRISIS Reuters 28 August 2002

  98. BUSINESS: SIR MARK MOODY-STUART HELPS CORPORATIONS WITH HIGH VISIBILITY AT JOHANNESBURG SUMMIT The Earth Times 28 August 2002

  99. SUMMIT REACHES OCEAN PROTECTION DEAL Associated Press 28 August 2002

  100. INTEREST IN SERBIA'S STRATEGY FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT Government of Serbia 28 August 2002

  101. CHALLENGES OF DEVELOPMENT JUDGES CALL FOR TOUGHER ACTION ON ENVIRONMENT International Herald Tribune 28 August 2002

  102. SUSTAINABILITY: WATER, WATER EVERYWHERE: MANDELA URGES SUMMIT DELEGATES TO PUT WATER ISSUES HIGHER ON AGENDA The Earth Times 28 August 2002

  103. GOVT RELEASES SUSTAINABILITY REPORTS AHEAD OF WORLD SUMMIT Stuff 28 August 2002

  104. YUGOSLAV DELEGATION ATTENDS SUMMIT ON SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT IN JOHANNESBURG Government of Serbia 28 August 2002

  105. SUMMIT: JUDGES FORTIFY ENVIRONMENTAL LAW PRINCIPLES ENS 27 August 2002

  106. DEAL LIFTS EARTH SUMMIT SPIRITS BUT TUSSLES GO ON Reuters 27 August 2002

  107. MBEKI CALLS FOR END TO ECONOMIC 'JUNGLE LAW' Independent Online 27 August 2002

  108. HOW WILL THE WORLD RATE WSSD 10 YEARS LATER? The Asahi Shimbun 27 August 2002

  109. HEALTH: AT SUMMIT, WHO'S NABARRO SAYS SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT MUST INCLUDE HEALTH PRIORITIES The Earth Times 26 August 2002

  110. POPE APPEALS TO WORLD SUMMIT DELEGATES SABCnews.com 25 August 2002

  111. THE SOUTHERN CIVIL SOCIETY PARTICIPATES IN THE JOHANNESBURG SUMMIT Danish Presidency of the EU 21 August 2002

SPECIAL NEWS REPORTS ON THE WEB

  1. SPECIAL REPORT

  2. TERRA VIVA

  3. THE GUARDIAN SPECIAL REPORT WORLD SUMMIT 2002

  4. CNN" GLOBAL BALANCE

  5. BBC DISPOSABLE PLANET

  6. BBC KEY STORIES

  7. INDEPENDENT: WSSD

  8. YAHOO

  9. INDEPENDENT MEDIA

  10. ROUNDUP OF UPI EARTH SUMMIT PREVIEWS

  11. TECHCENTRALSTATION

  12. EARTHTIMES

  13. CARIBBEAN COVERAGE OF THE WSSD

  14. EARTHWIRE: WSSD

  15. DAILY SUMMIT

  16. SCIENCE IN AFRICA

  17. DEVELOPMENT GATEWAY

  18. RADIO EARTH SUMMIT

  19. JOBURG NET

  20. SABC NEWS (SOUTH AFRICA)

  21. BUSINESS DAY (SOUTH AFRICA)

  22. INDEPENDENT ONLINE (SOUTH AFRICA)

GENERAL NEWS

1. EUROPEAN FISHERIES MINISTERS TO REMEMBER THE COMMITMENTS MADE AT WSSD, WWF URGES

WWF
20 September 2002
Internet: http://www.oneworld.net/cgi-bin/index.cgi?root=1953&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww%2Epanda%2Eorg%2Fnews%2Fpress%2Fnews%2Ecfm%3Fid%3D3164

Brussels, Belgium - WWF today urged the EU Fisheries Ministers to remember the commitments made in Johannesburg by European leaders - to restore fish stocks and eliminate harmful subsidies - when they meet on Monday in Brussels to discuss the future of Europe's fisheries policy.  The EU Fisheries Ministers' meeting will be the first one on Europe's fisheries policy since the World Summit on Sustainable Development (WSSD).  In South Africa, the EU and its leaders agreed an Implementation Plan which committed them to achieve sustainable fisheries, to restore fish stocks to levels that can provide the maximum sustainable yield, and to eliminate subsidies that contribute to overcapacity.  "This appears to be in total contrast to the negative stance taken by some Fisheries Ministers towards the modest reforms proposed by the European Commission," said Tony Long, Director of WWF European Policy Office. "Judging by the speeches of European leaders at Johannesburg there has been a change of heart."  At WSSD, French President Jacques Chirac described nature as being overexploited and no longer able to regenerate, and proposed that France be the first country to be assessed for its implementation of the Johannesburg Action Plan.  Similarly, Portuguese Prime Minister Barroso said, "Oceans' ecosystems and resources continue to be depleted at an alarming rate (...). Effective action to improve oceans and coastal management is urgently needed."

"I hope the Fisheries Ministers have been listening to their leaders," added Tony Long. "Here are the leaders of two countries that have so far opposed reform of Europe's disastrous fisheries policy making a clear commitment to do better in the future."  In fact, Europe's leaders have previously made one unambiguous commitment to reform the CFP - at the Gothenburg Summit in June 2001 - when they agreed that "the review of the Common Fisheries Policy in 2002 should address the overall fishing pressure by adapting EU fishing effort to the level of available resources." 

2. PAST YEAR A CHALLENGING ONE FOR 'GROUP OF 77' DEVELOPING COUNTRIES, ANNAN SAYS

United Nations News
19 September 2002
Internet: http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=4775&Cr=group&Cr1=77

19 September - The past year has been a challenging one for developing States, with the world economy recovering very slowly and the return of growth rates to levels achieved prior to the Asian crisis likely only in 2005, Secretary-General Kofi Annan told a meeting of ministers from the Group of 77 countries at the United Nations Headquarters in New York.  "Quite apart from the ruinous effects on individual men, women and children in the countries concerned, these economic doldrums have had global consequences - driving home yet again the message that no nation can consider itself immune from, or insured against, the effects of events and trends taking place thousands of miles away," the Secretary-General said in his remarks to the 133-nation coalition of developing countries.  The Secretary-General underscored the achievements of major economic meetings of the past year - from the World Trade Organization meeting in Doha, Qatar, to the International Conference on Financing for Development held in Monterrey, Mexico, and the recent World Summit on Sustainable Development in Johannesburg, South Africa - to address the challenges of development in an interdependent world.  "The conferences of the past year, their antecedents over the past decade, and the Millennium Development Goals have mobilized all stakeholders and partners around a common vision of economic and social progress," Mr. Annan said. "They have also created a common policy framework that now guides the entire United Nations system."  Progress towards implementing the goals of the Millennium Declaration, however, presented a mixed picture, the Secretary-General noted, calling achievements so far toward reducing child and maternal mortality "inadequate."

Mr. Annan told the ministers that he will submit to the Member States next week an agenda to further strengthen the UN, and called on countries to support those measures, many of which are directed towards the economic and social areas of greatest concern to the Group of 77.  "We must focus our energies not on activities that are of marginal utility or programmes that are no longer serving their intended purposes, but on the major challenges of our era and the things that really matter to the peoples of the world," he stressed. 

3. SUMMIT FAILS TO SET CONCRETE GOALS

Daily Yomiuri
17 September 2002
Internet: http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/newse/20020917wo72.htm

Among the wide range of issues covered at the World Summit on Sustainable Development that ended in Johannesburg earlier this month, environmentalists saw the issue of renewable energy as the key to protecting the environment, and this issue occasioned the most heated discussion in the summit.  The European Union, already one of the leaders in the renewable energy field, supported specific targets to increase the use of renewable energy by a set date, while other developed countries, such as Japan and the United States, opposed setting such specific targets, saying that they were unrealistic. Developing countries pointed out that extending access to energy to the poor is their first priority.  The differences in opinion between rich countries and impoverished ones were reflected in a U.N. report released in August. According to the report, "Over 2.5 billion people in developing countries depend on (wood for fuel) or, when that is unaffordable, on crop residues and animal dung."  Nongovernmental organizations, also key players at the summit, supported the target of increasing the global share of renewable energy to 15 percent of total primary energy supply by 2010, emphasizing the need for alternative energy sources for fossil fuels, whose burning is blamed for global warming.  The WSSD was a postmortem of the first Earth Summit held in Rio de Janeiro 10 years ago that adopted Agenda 21, a blueprint for action for sustainable development.  At the 1992 Earth Summit, world leaders had already agreed on the importance of increasing the use of renewable energy.  Agenda 21 stated that reducing energy consumption could contribute to the alleviation of environmental stress, and therefore, it was strongly urged that governments, in cooperation with industry, intensify their efforts in "encouraging the environmentally sound use of new and renewable sources of energy." In other words, a direction for the use of renewable energy was set in Rio de Janeiro.  However, last month's U.N. report stated that renewable energy sources make up only about 4.5 percent of total energy sources, up from 3.2 percent in 1971. Hydropower is the largest source, while wind and solar energy each provide only about 0.02 percent of the total.  Thus, it was vital that more concrete steps, such as setting time-bound targets, be taken in Johannesburg.  However, the final text of the action plan adopted at the end of the WSSD proposed to "Diversify energy supply by developing advanced, cleaner, more efficient, affordable and cost-effective energy technologies, including fossil fuel technologies and renewable energy technologies, hydro included." It also recommended, "with a sense of urgency, substantially increas(ing) the global share of renewable energy sources with the objective of increasing its contribution to total energy supply."  The winners? The United States, Japan, Australia, Saudi Arabia and other countries who opposed the setting of specific targets.  During a press briefing held after an agreement was reached on the provision of renewable energy, one U.S. government official said that "green" energy includes nuclear and fossil fuels, and the definition of "green" energy should be determined by each country based on its own circumstances.  In response to the U.S. stance on the issue of renewable energy, one U.S. activist said, "(U.S. President George W.) Bush is owned by oil companies."

Shortly after the agreement was reached, environmentalists protested the provision.  "This deal is worse than no deal," said Kate Hampton of Friends of the Earth.  The construction of large-scale hydropower plants has concerned environmentalists for their negative impact on the surrounding environment.  Although some researchers of renewable energy point out the necessity of nuclear power to support the unstable output of wind and solar powers, the fear of nuclear accidents, with their potential to have a devastating impact on the environment, remains strong, especially in developed countries.  Meanwhile, the WSSD did see some progress, such as announcements by the Russian and Canadian governments of their intention to ratify the Kyoto Protocol, which is aimed at curbing greenhouse gases. Although the two governments did not specify when they would ratify the pact, the ratification of Russia alone would bring the level of carbon dioxide emissions created by ratifying countries to 55 percent of total emissions by developed countries. A minimum level of 55 percent is required to bring the pact into effect.  During the summit, the Japanese government urged other developed countries that have not ratified the pact to do so as soon as possible.  However, Remi Parmentier of Greenpeace pointed out the contradiction in Japan supporting the Kyoto Protocol while opposing time-bound targets for renewable energy, targets environmentalists see as an important step toward fighting global warming.  

4. SEYCHELLES REINFORCES LEADERSHIP ROLE IN SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT AT WSSD

Seychelles Online
16 September 2002
Internet: http://www.seychelles-online.com.sc/archives/80160902.html

Seychelles managed to reinforce its leadership role in sustainable development and environmental conservation during the World Summit on Sustainable Development (WSSD) held in Johannesburg recently. Environment Minister Ronny Jumeau announced this on Tuesday in his office at the National Library where representatives of both governmental and non-governmental organisations (NGO) who went to South Africa met with the press. He also said that Seychelles had also been requested by Alliance of Small Island States (AOSIS) to work on a number of projects, and also declared that most of the larger countries responsible for the pollution of the world had agreed to sign the Kyoto Protocol which was aimed and the reduction of pollution globally. "We put in considerable pressure for people to ratify the protocol," he said, noting that the conference, attended by 60,000 delegates, also delved into matters related to climate change. The minister, who read President France Albert Rene's message at the WSSD, said that many environmental problems were not necessarily related to climate change. "Some of the adverse effects being experienced on the coral reefs, for example, are not entirely related to climate change.

"Some are due to unsustainable development, pressure of populations on the coasts and other problems which are man-made," he said.

Saying that all island states had been trying to make their voice on economic vulnerability heard over the years, Minister Jumeau said that in general, small island states tended to have higher Gross Domestic Product per capita among developing countries. He confirmed that Seychelles would benefit from a $20 million project for the protection of these islands' biodiversity, explaining that Global Environment Facility (GEF) would offer funds to the tune of $9 million, and help this country to secure the $11 million from donors globally.

He also confirmed that GEF was in the process of approving an NGO  project worth $1 million. Under the African Partnersip for the Development and Protection of the Environment, Seychelles would benefit from a $312  million fund. Once received, Seychelles portion of the money would be used to finance 11 coastal and sea management projects. Minister Jumeau led the four-man Seychelles delegation, while Mr Nirmal Jivan Shah headed the NGO delegation from the islands. 

5. WORLD SUMMIT ON SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT CALL TO EXECUTE JOHANNESBURG PLAN OF IMPLEMENTATION

Daily Star
16 September 2002
Internet: http://www.dailystarnews.com/200209/16/n2091610.htm#BODY3

Speakers yesterday made a call to formulate an action plan to execute the Johannesburg Plan of Implementation adopted at the just concluded World Summit on Sustainable Development (WSSD) for ensuring sustainable livelihood of the people of Bangladesh.  They were participating at a briefing session on WSSD outcome, organised by the Forum of Environmental Journalists of Bangladesh (FEJB), at FEJB Conference Room in the city.  Environment and Forest Minister Shajahan Siraj, State Minster for Environment and Forest Jafrul Islam Chowdhury and representatives of the World Bank, Asian Development Bank and DFID took part in the briefing session attended by the members of the civil society bodies.  FEJB Chairman Quamrul Islam Chowdhury chaired the briefing session organised with the support of the Ministry of Environment and Forest, UNDP and Danish 92 Group.  Environment and Forest Minister Shajahan Siraj said Bangladesh drew wide attention in the recently held World Summit on Sustainable Development (WSSD) by focusing the issues of its concern.  "We took preparations for the summit months ahead of the event which enabled us at the government and NGO levels to focus the issues concerning Bangladesh and gained support for its causes," he told the participants.  The minister added that Bangladesh courageously highlighted its problems like sharing of waters of common rivers with India saying Farakka and other barrages constructed upstream were threatening the lives of millions as well as the environment particularly the ecosystem of the world's largest mangrove forest Sundarbans.  He said the international community particularly extended their supports for the promotion of jute as an environment-friendly biodegradable product.  Siraj said the WSSD has set specific targets in most of the issues of environment and sustainable development and "we believe we will be able to attain the target with the assistance of development partners and the involvement of our people."  "In Bangladesh we have experienced that if leadership is there, people play their due role particularly as far as environment is concerned." he said.  Jafrul Islam Chowdhury said the WSSD has set the field for carrying out activities at the national level across the world as many countries, which earlier did not ratify the international treaties and conventions on environment were forced to acknowledge the issues to play their due role.

Paul Martin of the World Bank said the link between poverty and environment appeared to be a major focus of the WSSD, on which Bangladesh could concentrate as bad environment affects human health, causes poverty and exposes people to vulnerability.  Quamrul Islam Chowdhury said the WSSD has set some "ambitious targets" but what is now needed is the will and the capacity to attain the goals.

"The test will be whether the countries meet them," he said emphasising the need for formulating a national action plan to execute the Johannesburg Plan of Implementation.  Ki Hee Ryu of ADB underscored the need for integrating water and poverty issues in the light of WSSD outcome.  

6. 'SUSTAINED DISAPPOINTMENT' AFTER JOHANNESBURG NGOS CONDEMN FAILURE TO PUSH THROUGH GERMAN DEMANDS

Frankfurter Allgemeine
13 September 2002
Internet: http://www.faz.com/IN/INtemplates/eFAZ/archive.asp?doc={C298DD22-50DE-4166-93D5-3484B4A5EE25}&width=800&height=570&agt=explorer&ver=4&svr=4

FRANKFURT. While the German government voiced cautious satisfaction with the outcome of the Johannesburg World Summit on Sustainable Development that ended Sept. 4, German non-governmental organizations (NGOs) have been venting their anger over the summit's shortcomings. Germany was unable to push through one of its key goals, to lift the share of renewable energy worldwide to 15 percent by 2010 from the current 13.5 percent. All the delegates could agree on was a "considerable increase" subject to reviews to be reached "urgently." The German delegation did manage to enforce some other goals, however. The summit decided to cut by half the number of people who do not have access to basic sanitary infrastructure by 2015 and to minimize the reduction of biodiversity by 2010. Another aim, to reverse the trend toward losing natural resources by 2015, was watered down. It is now to be reached "as soon as possible." The German branch of Friends of the Earth, Bund für Umwelt und Naturschutz Deutschland (BUND), called the summit disappointing. "Environmental interests were betrayed in Johannesburg," said BUND President Angelika Zahmt, adding that "Thanks to the backward U.S. government, supported by Australia, Canada, Japan and the OPEC countries, sustainability was to a large extent sacrificed for short-term economic interests." Zahmt called the outcome - only two concrete goals concerning fishery and access to clean water - unworthy of a world summit. Volker Hausmann of Deutsche Welthungerhilfe, an organization dedicated to combating hunger, questioned the summit's format, saying that "The time of major summits is over." It was good that advances had been made in some areas, such as access to water, but results in other fields, such as agricultural subsidies and renewable energy, were all the more disillusioning. "Overall, there were too many issues on the agenda while no binding plans for implementation were made." Welthungerhilfe therefore called for smaller international conferences dedicated to just one topic each, allowing for easier decision-making and binding implementation concepts. Chancellor Gerhard Schröder said Germany would host such a conference on renewable energy when he spoke to the summit's participants in Johannesburg. He considered the summit a success, since "It paves the way for modern policies in many areas, such as energy and water as well as biodiversity." Environmental Minister Jürgen Trittin said Germany would provide financing of €500 million ($488 million) for the creation of renewable energy resources in developing countries over the next five years. According to Frankfurter Allgemeine Sonntagszeitung, Germany looks likely to miss its own goal to reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 25 percent by 2005 compared with 1990. The newspaper claimed it had seen the environmental ministry's unpublished annual report, which said that emissions had in fact climbed in the last two years. The ministry denied this, adding that the report would not be published until after general elections on Sept.  

7. TAIWAN TO MAKE ECOLOGY A QUESTION OF DIPLOMACY

Taipei Times
13 September 2002
Internet: http://www.taipeitimes.com/news/2002/09/13/story/0000167845

NOVEL IDEA: Under the new plan, the minister of foreign affairs will take charge of a unit that will promote sustainable development on an international level. Diplomatic concerns pertaining to sustainable development will soon be added to the portfolio of the Cabinet's National Council for Sustainable Develop-ment Minister without Portfolio Yeh Jiunn-rong said yesterday that this will not only improve Taiwan's image in the international community but will also ensure that the nation has a sustainable future.  At a conference held yesterday by the council to create action plans for sustainable development, Yeh said that working closely with other countries would be one of many important strategies to promote sustainable development.  "Our efforts in Johannesburg highlighted the necessity of working with other countries to promote sustainable development as being Taiwan's best new diplomatic direction," Minister without Portfolio Yeh Jiunn-rong Yeh told the Taipei Times that Premier Yu Shyi-kun clearly pointed out on Wednesday the necessity of letting the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) work with the council. Yu came to this conclusion after reviewing Taiwan's recent participation in the UN's World Summit on Sustainable Development (WSSD) in Johannesburg, South Africa.  "Our efforts in Johannesburg highlighted the necessity of working with other countries to promote sustainable development as being Taiwan's best new diplomatic direction," Yeh told the Taipei Times.  Yeh said that administrative procedures to incorporate the ministry into the council would not take long.  Minister of Foreign Affairs Eugene Chien who served as Taiwan's first Environmental Protection Administrator in 1987, would take charge of a unit that would promote sustainable development at an international level, Yeh said.  The council yesterday also specified 62 important tasks for different sectors relevant to creating sustainable development, ranging from the sectors of education, health, biodiversity, state-owned land management, international environmental affairs, energy creation and industry.  Lee Ling-ling), a zoology professor at National Taiwan University, told the conference that the lack of updated information and good partnership between the government and local groups made the preservation of biodiversity a daunting task.  Yeh stressed that the implementation of all 62 tasks relied on the establishment of good partnership between central government and local action groups, between central government and local governments, and between local governments and action groups.  Vice Minister of Education Fan Sun-lu  told the conference that education projects should be well-designed in order to train more people who can work on the promotion of sustainable development at the international level.  Environmental Protection Administrator Hau Lung-bin said that Taiwan would participate in international environmental pacts more aggressively. It would also present documents citing Taiwan's actions.  "Through the WTO Committee on Trade and Environment, Taiwan still has a lot to do," Hau said.  Speaking from a perspective of global environmental protection, Hau said that Taiwan should not neglect the emerging business opportunities in the environmental protection industry when considering sustainable development.  He also stressed the necessity of joining international organizations to monitor the long-range movement of airborne pollutants.  Environmental problems relating to acid rain united countries in eastern Asia such as China, Japan and South Korea. These countries have already established monitoring networks. 

8. BUSINESS AND U.N. RECOGNIZE SUSTAINABLE PARTNERSHIPS

GreenBiz.com via ENN
12 September 2002
Internet: http://www.enn.com/news/enn-stories/2002/09/09122002/s_48368.asp

JOHANNESBURG, South Africa - The United Nations and the International Chamber of Commerce named ten business partnership programs from around the world which are making an outstanding contribution to sustainable development.  Ten of the final 32 recipients of the ICC/UNEP World Summit Business Award for Sustainable Development Partnerships were presented at the Johannesburg Earth Summit. They are from four continents and represent a variety of innovative projects involving companies, environmental groups, local communities, and governments, from gas exploration in the Philippines to organic spice farming in Guatemala.  From each partnership, the lead partner is a company, NGO, government, or local authority. The lead partners and their partnership projects are (in no particular order):

· Alcan Inc. (Canada) - for a schools-based recycling program in Brazil, Canada, Malaysia, Thailand, and USA

· Shell (Philippines) - for a gas exploration project in The Philippines

· Axel Springer Verlag (Germany) - for a program promoting greater accountability in the newsprint production process

· Kesko (Finland) - for an initiative reducing packaging waste in their retail stores

· E7 Network (power generation companies from around the world) - for a project to provide renewable electricity to Indonesian villagers

· ForesTrade (USA) - for the creation of an international market in organic spices, grown in Indonesia and Guatemala

· Municipality of Calvia (Spain) - for a program with local hoteliers to reduce waste produced by the tourism industry

· BioRe and Coop (Switzerland) - for their efforts to build a market in organic cotton clothing products involving farmers in India and Tanzania

· Migros (Switzerland) - for its program to promote sustainable production of palm oil in Ghana for its consumer products

· Business Trust South Africa (a coalition of South African companies and local government) - for an initiative to build the tourism industry and create jobs.

UNEP Executive Director Klaus Topfer said, "It is good to see that the 2002 Awards have received such wide interest. I hope that the award-winning partnerships will present inspirational examples for others to follow and improve upon. We crucially need many more partnerships that display multistakeholder involvement, accountability, and at the same time, benefits to business, helping us to better achieve the goal of sustainable development."  The final partnerships were assessed and selected by a panel of 12 experts drawn from business, labor, research, environmental groups, and the United Nations. More than 120 nomination, spanning 37 countries were received via ICC National Committees and UNEP Regional Offices. 

9. MIXED RESULTS FOR DEVELOPING COUNTRIES AT EARTH SUMMIT -- NICHOLSON

Jamaica Observer
12 September 2002
Internet: http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/news/html/20020911T220000-0500_31813_OBS_MIXED_RESULTS_FOR_DEVELOPING_COUNTRIES_AT_EARTH_SUMMIT____NICHOLSON.asp

JUSTICE Minister and Attorney General, A J Nicholson, said there were mixed results for Jamaica and other small developing countries at the just- concluded World Summit on Sustainable Development in Johannesburg, South Africa. Speaking with JIS News in London during a brief stopover on his way home from the conference, the minister said there was the feeling that the peculiar risks and uncertainties that affected small developing states on a daily basis were not fully appreciated or acknowledged on all sides. "The perceived and potential benefits of globalisation still mean that many developing countries are susceptible to market forces and the capricious behaviours of large national and international corporations," Nicholson said. However, he said there were some positive steps at the conference, including the summits implementation plan for Small Island Developing States and the adoption and endorsement of the Latin American and Caribbean initiative for sustainable development. "In moving towards sustainable development there is need to foster energy-efficient strategies and the diversification of energy supplies and the use of renewable energy supplies. We (developing countries) deeply regret the failure to establish firm targets to move from non-sustainable to sustainable energy supplies," he noted. Nicholson said the conference affirmed the wisdom that sustainable development should be carried out in a framework of partnership at both the development and implementation stages. He also said there should be arrangements within established parameters to involve all partners and establish mechanisms to prevent strong countries from backing out on commitments made to assist developing countries. 

10. WORLD SUMMIT THE FIRST TIME WALES HAS BEEN REPRESENTED ON GLOBAL STAGE BY AN ELECTED LEADER

The Western Mail (Wales)
11 September 2002
Internet: http://icwales.icnetwork.co.uk/0300business/0100news/page.cfm?objectid=12188471&method=full&siteid=50082

THE World Summit in Johannesburg, despite cynicism and disillusionment, was nevertheless a small milestone in the evolution of government in Wales. Meaningful global agreements were few and far between, but the participation of our First Minister will have lasting repercussions back home. If the Assembly Government's rhetoric is turned into action, this small milestone may even guide others along the road to sustainability. The UN World Summit on Sustainable Development was much more than a meeting of heads of state - it brought together local and regional governments, business groups, academics and non-governmental organisations. It was the first time in history that Wales had been represented on the global stage by an elected politician: the incorporation of global issues adds a new dimension to the Assembly's constitution. The role of business was also in the spotlight at Johannesburg. The undoubtedly destructive influence of some big energy companies in blocking progress on climate change and renewables was balanced by partnership agreements for practical projects on the ground. Although the summit didn't institutionalise such agree-ments into any UN evaluation process, a parallel development on regionalisation makes them highly relevant in Wales. Rhodri Morgan was co-chair of a global conference of the regions which led to the signing of the Gauteng Declaration. When we look back on Johannesburg, we may find that the process of sustainable development was better served by the involvement of the sub-national governments, progressive business groups and NGOs than the often empty gestures of the heads of state. The inertia and complexity of the nation states prevents them challenging the dominant (and failed) economic orthodoxies. Amongst the Gauteng signatories was the State of Western Australia, whose commitment contrasted sharply with that of the Australian Federal Government which vetoed everything in sight. From the US, Congressman George Miller of California spoke out against his Federal Govern-ment's line on energy: that state is home to the world's leading-edge new technology companies and academic institutions. By signing the Declaration these states, and Wales, recognise that regional government and business can generate solutions. However, this regional co-operation should not let the big governments off the hook: only at the highest level can action be taken on poverty eradication, on corporate responsibility and trade. But with powerful vested interests ranged against these reforms, such leadership seems to have become politically impossible. The nation states can and must empower their regional and local governments and place the necessary tools in the hands of democratic institutions and businesses that are closer to the people. In Wales a huge responsibility will now fall on the Assembly Government, which needs to re-form its departments and agencies. But Johannesburg was also a wake-up call to business: opportunities are there for the taking. This coalition can address the issues left unresolved in Johannesburg, setting the agenda rather than waiting for them to be set by mega summits and multilateral conventions. 

11. JOHANNESBURG SUMMIT HIGHLIGHTS RICH-POOR GAP

Daily Yomiuri
11 September 2002
Internet: http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/newse/20020911wo71.htm

"We have no money, no jobs--we have nothing," said Kate Mxakato, an 89-year-old bedridden woman living in a low-income black community in Soweto, South Africa.  Mxakato, once an active antiapartheid campaigner, was not entirely accurate. In fact, her pension provides her with a regular monthly income of 620 rand (about 62 dollars). The reality, however, is that 10 people live in her two-bedroom house, including her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Her pension is the sole source of household income because the rest of her family members are either children or unemployed.  The alleviation of poverty was one of the main themes of the World Summit on Sustainable Development (WSSD), which was held from Aug. 26 to Sept. 4 in the luxurious Sandton area, a 30-minute car ride from Mxakato's house.  A total of 104 heads of state and government participated in the conference, which attracted about 21,000 participants, including government officials, members of nongovernmental organizations, and representatives from municipal governments and the business sector.  The WSSD was intended as a 10-year review of the 1992 Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro, where delegates adopted Agenda 21, a 40-chapter action program for preserving the environment. Since the Earth Summit, it had become increasingly obvious that poverty causes environmental degradation, and the goal of the WSSD was to achieve harmony among three central concerns--the economy, social development and the environment.  In his opening remarks at the WSSD, Klaus Toepfer, the executive director of the U.N. Environment Program, said the root causes of global environmental degradation "are embedded in social and economic problems such as pervasive poverty, unsustainable patterns of consumption and production, and vast and increasing inequities in the distribution of wealth."  People in South Africa vividly illustrate the gap between the haves and have-nots. For example, living conditions are even harsher in another area in Soweto--Motsoaledi. Squatters live in shacks that cover the hilly area, which is without electricity or running water and where the smell of human waste hangs in the air.  Unlike some neighboring countries, such as Zimbabwe, South Africa is a democracy and does not suffer from a severe drought. In fact, South Africa's gross domestic product is larger than those of Nigeria, Kenya and Egypt combined. Nevertheless, the unemployment rate among black people in South Africa exceeds 40 percent. The labor market is even worse in low-income communities in Soweto. There, young men and women aimlessly walk the streets during what would otherwise be working hours.

"The government is abandoning its responsibility," said Kagiso Chakane, 42, who lost his job at a phone company in February last year. He depends on his wife, who works as a secretary and earns a monthly salary of 2,500 rand (about 30,000 yen). "There may be no jobs for the next 10 years," he lamented.  Siphamandla Zondi, a researcher on sustainable development at the Africa Institute, said globalization has accelerated unfair trade practices. As a result, he said, "A smaller portion of the world's population has become richer and a larger portion has remained poor."  During the summit, hundreds of antiglobalization protesters gathered in Johannesburg from all over the country.  Jacobus Davidson, 42, from the Western Cape Province, expressed his discontent. "Look up around. Poor people are not benefiting from development. Development is only for the bourgeoisie, only for rich people in Europe or other developed countries," he said.  The protesters demonstrated by walking from Nasrec in Johannesburg to Sandton. As a parallel event to the WSSD, Nasrec hosted the Civil Society Global Forum, a gathering of tens of thousands of representatives from NGOs from all over the world. Some of the international NGO members joined in demonstrations against globalization.  There were several marches between low-income black communities in Johannesburg and Sandton, which were intended to illuminate the widening income gap between the city's shantytowns and its affluent areas.  Richard Moloisane, a 42-year-old driver, said, "I see the widening gap even among black people. People like high-ranking government officials have become richer while we, who work the hardest, remain poor."  

12. BERKELEY’S SISTER CITY WINS UN AWARD AT THE WORLD SUMMIT A BRIGHT SPOT AT THE SUMMIT SHINES ON A VILLAGE IN BORNEO

The Borneo Project via Oneworld
11 September 2002
Internet: http://www.oneworld.net/cgi-bin/index.cgi?root=129&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww%2Eearthisland%2Eorg%2Fnews%2Fnew%5Fnews%2Ecfm%3FnewsID%3D231

Johannesburg - The village of Uma Bawang has been chosen from a pool of 420 communities worldwide to receive the 2002 Equator Prize at the World Summit on Sustainable Development in Johannesburg, South Africa. Uma Bawang, an indigenous village located on the island of Borneo, is one of seven communities to win the 2002 Equator Prize for outstanding efforts to reduce poverty and sustainably manage biodiversity. For eleven years, the city of Berkeley and the village of Uma Bawang have been linked through an official sister-city partnership. This unique international relationship started shortly after 42 Uma Bawang residents were jailed for erecting blockades to keep logging companies out of their ancestral rainforests. The sister-city partnership has evolved over time into a non-profit called the Borneo Project, which continues to assist Uma Bawang and other forest-dependent communities to protect indigenous land rights, threatened rainforests and the right to self-determination. In addition to international recognition, the Uma Bawang Resident's Association (UBRA) was awarded $30,000 in prize money to further their work. UBRA has successfully used blockades and innovative mapping efforts to defend their customary land rights and access to rainforest lands. Recently Uma Bawang used maps to defeat plans for an oil palm plantation that would have clear-cut their communal forests. Since UBRA's first mapping workshop in 1995, they have taught other communities how to defend their borders and secure legal recognition of traditional lands. UBRA's commitment to self-reliance has also generated numerous projects to provide sustenance and cash incomes including communal rice farming and milling, pig, fish and frog rearing, handicraft marketing, pepper and fruit production, reforestation of local species, and sustainable teakwood plantations. "The people of Uma Bawang have struggled for years to create their own vision of development," says Joe Lamb, Berkeley resident and founder of the sister-city. "Over the years, we've provided vital resources and technical training to assist their efforts, but what we've received in return is priceless. The Equator Prize shows just how much people in the developing world have to teach us about sustainable development." The Equator Initiative is sponsored by the United Nations Development Program, in partnership with BrasilConnects, the government of Canada, the International Development Research Centre (IDRC), IUCN - The World Conservation Union, The Nature Conservancy, Television Trust for the Environment (TVE), and the UN Foundation. It showcases highly successful and innovative partnerships for sustainable development in tropical ecosystems. 

13. NGOS SAY EARTH SUMMIT STARTING POINT FOR ACTION

E-Taiwan News
10 September 2002
Internet: http://www.etaiwannews.com/Taiwan/2002/09/10/1031619682.htm

An association of local non-governmental organizations said yesterday that it sees the end of the recent Earth Summit as a starting point for its own actions.  Democratic Progressive Party legislator Eugene Jao and members of Taiwan Action Non-Governmental Organizations (TANGO) who attended the World Summit on Sustainable Development in Johannesburg two weeks ago said at a press conference yesterday that the summit did not achieve much in terms of a solid agreement, but served the purpose of highlighting and promoting the concept of sustainable development.  "Ten years ago at the world summit in Rio de Janiero the term sustainable development was just a theory as was discussed as such. But at the recently concluded Earth Summit, concrete measures were discussed to achieve this goal," said Jao.  Taiwan's input at the summit was described by TANGO as successful, as the group attended a total of 10 sessions and seminars and held bilateral meetings with representatives from Tibet, Germany, Hong Kong, China and Korea, respectively.  Juju Wang, leader of TANGOs, said they were also very successful in promoting the idea of "green diplomacy" and gained membership in two international organizations, the Global Environmental Justice Link and the Africa Anti-Dam Alliance."  "The end of the summit marks the beginning of our own action," said Wang, adding that greater efforts are needed to implement the proposals agreed to by the summit's participants from around the world.  "Our next step should be to train more people to work in the NGOs," said Wang.  The NGO group also participated in a demonstration organized by citizens of South Africa to protest the inequality of land distribution, and at yesterday's press conference members of the group displayed some of the placards carried in the protest. The Taiwan NGOs participation in the demonstration was warmly welcomed by the local citizens, TANGO said.  "We exerted a strength beyond that expected of a country the size of Taiwan,"said Jao who is also an anti-nuclear activist.  TANGO mounted a number of displays at the summit on the themes of Labor, Aborigines, Anti-nuclear, Water resources, Women and Chemical Storm.  According to the group, several hundred persons signed a petition in support of Taiwan's participation in the international community, while TANGO issued 1,800 "Taiwan Ecology Passports" to delegates at the summit.  Lai Fen-lan, one of the participants and also spokesperson for Taiwan's Green Party, said Taiwan's efforts at environmental protection was acknowledged by delegates and Taiwan also gained support to host the 2003 Asia Pacific Green Party Assembly.  

14. EBTEKAR ASSESSES OUTCOME OF WORLD EARTH SUMMIT AS POSITIVE

IRNA
10 September 2002
Internet: http://www.irna.com/en/head/020910200318.ehe.shtml

Tehran, Sept 10, IRNA -- Vice President and Head of the Department of the Environment (DoE) Masoumeh Ebtekar here on Tuesday assessed the World Summit on Sustainable Development in Johannesburg, South Africa, as quite positive on issues concerning the environment. World Summit on Sustainable Development (August 26-September 4) was attended by heads of states, ministers and senior experts. She told reporters that given Iran's efforts in the past two years and the active participation of Iranian delegation in most global and  regional sessions held in connection with the recent summit, Iran had a decisive say in drawing up the summit's final document. She pointed to `implementing and materializing' the commitments   made by various states in connection with environmental issues  worldwide as one of the most significant achievements of the recent summit. She recalled that the final document of the summit was, therefore,

drawn up more precisely. "More commitments are sought from developed and industrial countries in the summit's final document, while more active participation was demanded from governments and the public as non-governmental organizations to ensure their materializations," she added. The summit, the largest international forum, was attended by 110,000 senior world officials and was aimed at challenging governments to invest more to help reduce worldwide hunger and poverty as well as provide clean water.  Moreover, such issues as promoting renewable energy sources with a view to better protect the environment, wildlife diversity and management of ecosystems were also among the objectives of the summit.                                                              

15. TAIWAN SCORES SUCCESS AT SUMMIT

Taipei Times
10 September 2002
Internet: http://www.taipeitimes.com/news/2002/09/10/story/0000167499

SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT: Both government officials and representatives of the nation's NGOs are back from Johannesburg and are pleased with their efforts there. Taiwan's recent successful participation in the UN World Summit on Sustainable Development (WSSD) demonstrates not only the nation's resolution to keep up with international environmental trends but also its future direction in the diplomatic sector, Minister without Portfolio Yeh Jiunn-rong said yesterday.  Reviewing Taiwanese officials' 11-day stay in Johannesburg, South Africa, where the summit was held, Yeh, the leader of Taiwan's delegation, said that more measures would be carried out to redirect Taiwan's diplomatic strategies, which would focus on sustainable development.  "Taiwan's aid to developing countries to ensure their sustainable future will eventually gain their respect," Yeh said at a press conference held in Taipei yesterday.  Yeh said that he and Environmental Protection Administrator Hau Lung-bin had actually planned future international cooperation with countries, such as Gambia, Nicaragua, Panama, El Salvador, Burkina Faso, the Solomon Islands, South Africa, Canada and Indonesia.  Environmental Protection Agency head Hau met with Joke Waller-Hunter, the Executive Secretary of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, to demonstrate Taiwan's desire to work with the international community to protect the planet.  When Russia followed Canada in promising to ratify the Kyoto Protocol on Sept. 3 at the summit, the once-troubled UN pact on global warming was revived. Ratification by Russia will mean that the climate change pact will take effect despite US opposition.  Taiwan, a non-party of the protocol, will not be able to participate because of its diplomatic status.  Yeh told the Taipei Times that Taiwan is pleased that the protocol will take effect but noted that Taiwan does not have to follow the regulations set down by the pact.  "What Taiwan can do now is to adjust its structure of industry to limit carbon dioxide emissions to show that Taiwan is sincere about working with others on these issues," Yeh said.  In addition, Yeh stressed that Taiwan should be especially attentive to international trends in the energy and biodiversity sectors.  "Our past dependence on fossil fuel and nuclear energy should be carefully reviewed because renewable sources of energy will be further promoted by the rest of the world for the sake of environmental protection," Yeh said.  Taiwan should focus on preserving natural coasts and wetlands because many surveys have shown that traditional development models conflict with ecological conservation, which is the foundation of biodiversity.  DPP Legislator Eugene Jao who was the only representative from the Legislative Yuan at the summit, said at the press conference that concepts of sustainable development should be considered in any review of the Economic Development Advisory Conference held last year.  "After all, Taiwan needs politicians who care about whether future generations will survive in 200 years rather than political figures who only care about the next election," Jao said.  Meanwhile, representatives from Taiwan Action NGOs (TANGOs), who spent two weeks in Johannesburg, said at another press conference yesterday that international networks were built or further strengthened by NGOs in Tibet, Germany, Hong Kong, China and South Korea.  "Our mission to promote sustainable development at home has already begun since our return from Johannesburg," said Juju Wang the leader of TANGOs.  Wang said that next year will be Jo'burg+1 in Taiwan and activities to promote sustainable development will be held every year to review Taiwan's efforts on sustainable development.  Wang said that the one failure of Taiwan's delegation was the absence of representatives from the education and health sector because poverty reduction and AIDS control were some of the primary issues at the summit. 

16. SUMMIT ENDORSES ROLE OF SPACE

ESA
9 September 2002
Internet: http://www.esa.int/export/esaMI/WSSD_CEOS/ESABJOZPD4D_0.html

Although there is some controversy surrounding the outcome of last week's summit on sustainable development there is one subject on which all delegates were unanimous: the important role that Earth observation satellites can play in assisting sustainable development.

 The World Summit on Sustainable Development (WSSD) 54-page Plan of Implementation contains more than 10 specific references to Earth observation, clearly demonstrating that the Summit recognised the importance of space technology for sustainable development. This success goes back to ESA, which - in its role as CEOS Chair -delivered a number of official statements during the preparatory meetings and the Summit itself. Some of the statements delivered by ESA, on behalf of CEOS, were also followed by supporting interventions by national delegations to CEOS, such as Japan and the USA.  ESA staff had a busy but rewarding week, as this year ESA is chair of CEOS and co-chair of IGOS, the Integrated Global Observing Strategy partnership. José Achache, ESA Director of Earth Observation, addressed the plenary session of the Summit on behalf of these organisations. ESA staff also participated in a number of meetings and discussions on the use of satellite data at Ubuntu Village in Johannesburg, where ESA also had a stand.  Two important WSSD partnership initiatives concerning Earth observation data were launched during the week: the first by IGOS concerning the use of space and ground measurements for sustainable development; and the second by CEOS to encourage partnership on education and training in Earth observation. Both of these measures aim to widen the use of Earth observation data to protect the environment, particularly in developing countries, and to ensure that this data is available to all.  To follow up on the action taken at the Summit, a high-level meeting has been arranged for 19 November at ESRIN, ESA's space research institute in Frascati, Italy. Here, government ministers, UN representatives and heads of space agencies will decide on how best to use satellite data to support sustainable development.  When asked about the Summit José Achache replied: "In Rio, heads of states achieved agreement on high level political declarations but with little underlying ground work. In contrast, Johannesburg did not lead to a strong political consensus but initiated many concrete actions and partnerships."  "Earth observation for space achieved a level of visibility and recognition at the Summit that has never before been achieved in such a forum."  "ESA is already contemplating the launch of a concrete initiative to support sustainable development and capacity building in developing countries, by the joint use of Earth observation and telecom satellites, particularly Envisat and Artemis." 

17. NATION BACKS UP SUMMIT PLANS

China Daily
9 September 2002
Internet: http://www1.chinadaily.com.cn/cndy/2002-09-06/85139.html

JOHANNESBURG, South Africa: Zeng Peiyan, minister of the State Development Planning Commission, described the World Summit on Sustainable Development having a "positive" influence.  "The Chinese Government will work together with other countries to follow the consensus and action plans reached during this summit to promote global sustainable development with unremitting efforts," Zeng told China Daily in an interview yesterday.  China was the first country to draft its own country-specific plan for sustainable development after the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development held in Brazil's city of Rio de Janeiro a decade ago. Zeng, however, did not say when a similar Chinese action plan would arise as a result of the Johannesburg summit.  The 10-day summit ended on Wednesday after adopting the Political Declaration reaffirming participating countries' commitment to achieving sustainable development and a Plan of Implementation that set down targets and timetables to spur action on a wide range of issues.  The targets include: halving the proportion of people who lack access to clean water or proper sanitation by 2015, and phasing out the use of toxic chemicals by 2005.  "Compared with Agenda 21 and the Rio Declaration in 1992, the results of this summit - including the Plan of Implementation, the Political Declaration and the suggestion for a partnership in achieving the goal of sustainable development - are more action-oriented," said Zeng. "They will be conducive to the implementation of the principles for sustainable development set down in the Rio summit."  In addition to the detailed timetables for most of the targets, Zeng noted that the Plan of Implementation also set down the policy measures that countries should take to meet the targets, as well as their responsibilities at an international and domestic level.  

18. TECHNOLOGY AS A TOOL OF DIPLOMACY

Taipei Times
9 September 2002
Internet: http://www.taipeitimes.com/news/2002/09/09/story/0000167397

FOREIGN RELATIONS: By transferring technology to less-developed countries, Taiwan can show that it is a part of the international community, officials say. The Cabinet's National Council for Sustainable Development this week will review and examine results of Taiwan's participation in the UN World Summit on Sustainable Development (WSSD), which was held in Johannesburg, South Africa, from Aug. 26 to Sept. 4.  One of the review points will be how Taiwan can narrow the sustainable development gap with the international community.  The idea was first brought up by Minister without Portfolio Yeh Jiunn-rong (¸"Tºa), the leader of Taiwan's delegation to the summit, in Johannesburg last week before coming home.  Yeh argued that the promotion of sustainable development should be a new dimension of Taiwan's international diplomacy.  High-ranking Taiwanese officials who observed activities at the summit told the Taipei Times that technology transfers should be at the top of the nation's diplomatic affairs agenda in the future, which would help broaden Taiwan's space in the international community.  National Science Council Vice Chairman Hsieh Ching-chih (Á²M§Ó) told the Taipei Times that existing academic exchanges of scientific research with other countries should be further promoted to practical levels, with knowledge and technology transferred to countries in need.  Public Construction Commission Vice Chairman Kuo Ching-chiang (³¢²M¦¿) told the Taipei Times that if Taiwan's contributions to poor countries in the technology sector were blocked because of the predicament it's in, then it would eventually cause losses for the whole world. "For example, we've fought against natural disasters for decades and eventually have come to acquire some precious experience that we can now share with those in need," Kuo said.

INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION

Taiwanese officials base their thinking on international trends. In developing countries, inadequate skills, limited access to technical information, ineffective institutional and regulatory frameworks, as well as organizational rigidities impede technical change and innovation.

Technology transfers, therefore, have been regarded by the world as a powerful tool to reduce poverty and to improve standards of living in developing countries.  Taiwanese officials argue that while technology cooperation can take many different forms, Taiwan can focus on engineering services, management services, technical services and assistance.  Many countries with environmental concerns argue that developing countries can actually leapfrog to the newest, most productive and environmentally sound technologies available without repeating the mistakes made by developed countries in the past.

FROM NORTH TO SOUTH

Existing mechanisms function in the world to promote technology transfer from the North to the South.  For example, the Global Environment Facility's (GEF) Small Grants Program has helped to conserve biodiversity, reduce the risks of climate change, stop land degradation, and reduce water pollution.  Since 1991, the GEF has committed US$117.35 million, leveraging US$65.6 million from other partners, to national NGOs and community groups, directly involving them in addressing global environmental problems, according to the Earth Times on Sept. 4.  Administered by the UN Development Program (UNDP), the Small Grants Program has disbursed more than 3,000 small grants, up to US$50,000 each, for projects that reconcile global environmental benefits with sustainable livelihoods for local people, the report said.  In addition, the UN Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) uses technology cooperation to help developing countries and economies adjust to the marginalization of today's globalized world.  At the launch of the Technology Transfer Initiative held by the UNIDO in Johannesburg on Sept. 2, Carlos Magarinos, director-general of the UNIDO, stressed that sustainable industrial progress involves responding to this technological marginalization by applying technology transfers and management techniques at appropriate national, sector and enterprise levels.  Incorporating assistance from the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD), the UNIDO has carried out a broad spectrum of projects, such as a cement plant in China, local farming in Brazil,  Guatemala and Kenya, micro-enterprises in South Africa and photovoltaic electrification in rural areas of the Philippines.  Attendees agreed that technology cooperation requires all cooperating parties to gain from the cooperation. Technology cooperation can be enhanced via business-to-business partnerships. Such cooperation is thought to be most successful in a commercial setting that involves beneficial cooperation between two companies.  In addition, cooperation with research institutions, local and national governments, NGOs and intergovernmental organizations strengthens the adaptation, diffusion and sustainable use of new technologies.  "If the institutional frameworks are la