REPORT ON AN ONGOING UK MULTI-STAKEHOLDER PROCESS

Transcription

1 A UK multi-stakeholder forum UNED Forum UNED Forum c/o UNA 3 Whitehall Court London SW1A 2EL UK Tel: + 44 (0) Fax: +44 (0) info@earthsummit2002.org Visit our Websites at: and Derek Osborn, Chair Felix Dodds, Director Charles Nouhan, Deputy Director From: UNED UK, The UNEP National Committee for the United Kingdom REPORT ON AN ONGOING UK MULTI-STAKEHOLDER PROCESS For delegates at the UNECE Regional Preparatory Meeting for the World Summit on Sustainable Development, 24 th -25 th September 2001, Geneva This document is a preliminary report from an ongoing UK multi-stakeholder process facilitated by UNED Forum s UK Committee (UNED UK). The process aims to create a framework where the different sectors of UK Civil Society and the business community can communicate, and channel their ideas and experiences about sustainable development into Summit processes. The varied stakeholder groups represented have established consensus on a number of key international issues that they believe to be priorities for the Johannesburg Summit, as well as some important domestic issues that they agree the UK Government needs to address prior to the Summit and beyond it. These issues are briefly outlined in the following pages. The stakeholder groups have been organised around five thematic stakeholder groups, which were established after broad consultation with UK Civil Society 1. These themes are: ENERGY & CLIMATE CHANGE SUSTAINABLE CITIES & COMMUNITIES SUSTAINABLE PRODUCTION & CONSUMPTION BIODIVERSITY & NATURAL RESOURCES CONSERVATION THE UK IN THE WIDER WORLD In the future, and with the support of the UK Government, UNED UK plans to widen stakeholder participation, to provide constructive and realistic inputs to the UK Government and to the Summit processes, and to further engage with UK Civil Society as we move through the Summit preparatory process and towards September CONTACTS: For further information please contact Charles Nouhan at cnouhan@earthsummit2002.org, or by telephone at +44 (0) and +44 (0) Further information can be found on the UNED Forum website, at: 1 Two more groups have since been added: Population & Sustainability and Education for Sustainable Development Page 1 of 6

2 ENERGY & CLIMATE CHANGE Identifying priorities and actions to achieve a sustainable energy future and reduce climate change. Focuses mainly on domestic priorities and actions many of these are applicable elsewhere. Reviewing current UK policy, and integrating sustainable energy concerns across all sectors and departments: Promoting local renewable energy projects, and establishing participatory decision-making processes on energy issues at local levels in the UK Reviewing the coherence of, and removing the conflicts within, existing UK energy policies Making product energy consumption information mandatory Building regulations to include energy efficiency targets Revising existing interim targets for fossil fuel replacement to stimulate more rapid action, to achieve a carbon neutral energy supply mix in the long term Further promoting energy efficiency and conservation, and the faster growth of a UK sustainable energy industry. Making carbon emission reductions more palatable to the public (probably via taxation strategies) Awareness raising - What does the government and others need to do to put global warming and the energy policy response centre stage? Science and Technology - Accelerating the development of carbon neutral technologies: Decisions on necessary actions to promote non-fossil fuel energy solutions are being pushed from the short to the medium term because of lack of Government commitment, and a lack of research and development. Greater power generation from non-fossil fuel sources must be implemented sooner rather than later, which will involve increased immediate R&D investment to solve outstanding questions. Solar energy, wind energy, wave and tidal power, and energy crops were identified as potential solutions to control carbon dioxide emissions in the UK, while in the long term geothermal energy was also identified. International - Examining global policies: Adopting a more coherent approach to international energy policy that incorporates the Clean Development Mechanism of the Kyoto Protocol (CDM) and has as its goal the reduction of grass roots energy poverty in developing countries. Promoting intermediate technology ( off-grid ) solutions to renewable energy development and poverty alleviation in developing countries There is little coherence between stated concerns about climate change and international trade policies; these policies need scrutiny. Governments and supranational organisations need to act to encourage efficiency and emissions reductions by Trans-national Corporations. It is essential that the World Bank, IMF and other multilateral organisations work to promote the switch to renewable energy. Page 2 of 6

3 SUSTAINABLE CITIES & COMMUNITIES How can we achieve sustainability in our cities and in our communities? This group has focused on the domestic situation, but the priorities and actions are equally applicable elsewhere. PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT, PARTICIPATION AND EDUCATION 1. What can be done to encourage public engagement in the way we run our communities and cities? 2. In what ways would active public participation help assure more cost effective organisation of towns and cities, as well as more enjoyable places to live? There is a need for back to basics strategies to raise awareness of sustainable development amongst the public. We need to encourage and support all communities to implement strategies for local sustainable development, and to identify and overcome the political and institutional barriers to implementation. The collapse of trust between local communities and local authorities is an obstacle to implementation of sustainability strategies. The process of building social capital and rebuilding communities depends on a cultural change in local government and creative, pro-active ways of engaging communities. Improving education about sustainable development is crucial, including adult education programmes and the school curriculum NEW, CREATIVE APPROACHES TO PLANNING 1. Can we learn from methods of planning in other countries that involve the active participation of the general public? 2. What changes are needed in the current planning system? 3. Conversely, are there best practice examples in the UK that should be copied elsewhere?! The planning system is key in delivering sustainable development, and the principles of sustainable development need to become central to the planning process at all levels.! The process needs to go beyond simple land-use planning to consider an integrated approach that links with regional economic and transport plans. LINKAGES BETWEEN LIVEABILITY AND SUSTAINABILITY 1. Where are the overlaps between the liveability and sustainability of our cities and communities? 2. How can we assure that sustainability and reduced global impacts - is not lost in the concern for improved local environments? 3. What is the role of civil engineering and public services in enhanced sustainability of towns and cities? Areas of overlap between liveability and sustainability include improved public transport, cycle routes in cities, and energy efficient housing. Linking the local environment and the global environment is a key challenge in education and awareness raising. STRENGTHENING LOCAL ECONOMIES 1. How can we improve the integrity and vigour of local economies? 2. What can be done to re-establish vibrant local economies throughout the UK? Strengthening local economies offers greater sustainability and improved quality of life in urban areas. It is a counter to the downsides of economic globalisation, and can give citizens a sense of greater empowerment in the decisions that affect their lives. Page 3 of 6

4 SUSTAINABLE PRODUCTION & CONSUMPTION This thematic group aims to make positive recommendations to achieve sustainable production and consumption in four different sectors in the UK 1. FOOD Preliminary principles for a future of sustainable food production and consumption: - Consumption at the nearest point to production - Reintroducing seasonality of fresh foods - Zero solid waste at all levels - Healthy nutritious food available to all - Zero pollutants in the production process - Maximising renewable energy sources - Minimising processing - Discouraging monopolies, encouraging diversity - Food costs should cover the full cost of the production and disposal - Transparency and availability of information to consumers - Full traceability of food, including the harvest dates of fresh fruit and vegetables - Reorienting and revising local, national and international regulations and fiscal controls - Improved education at all stages 2. SUSTAINABLE TOURISM Tourism that meets the social and cultural needs of the local communities at tourist destinations, protects and enhances the built and natural environment, and provides an enriching experience for the tourists whilst raising awareness about the need for responsible travel Raising consumer awareness by improved marketing of sustainable tourism certification schemes Requiring tour operators to include sustainability training for all staff Full-cost accounting for the transportation of tourists (i.e. inclusion of the health and environmental impacts). Introduction of satellite accounting for tourism to understand true value, as a basis for re-investment in infrastructure and product development. 3. PERSONAL TRANSPORT Goal: To develop a fully integrated transport system (accessible by all) that will render personally owned transport unnecessary in most situations. A number of barriers were identified: - Injecting new, alternative technologies into traditional supply chains - Difficulties of using public transport - Attractions of personal transport - Stimulating consumer action/power - Assessing the life-cycle costs of different modes of transport Development of alternative technologies, such as solar, hydrogen and bio-fuels, and steps towards greater fuel efficiency should be encouraged and accelerated. 4. WATER (Domestic consumption) Responsible supply and use of water consistent with available resources so as to achieve good health and hygiene. Recognising the true value, costs and impacts of water supply treatment and after treatment. Practical actions to achieve this objectives was proposed: Awareness raising Changing pricing structures and providing incentives for water efficiency Changing planning policy guidelines for all new buildings Investment in low/no water technology Page 4 of 6

5 BIODIVERSITY & NATURAL RESOURCES CONSERVATION What can the Johannesburg Summit do to further the conservation of biodiversity and natural resources, and how can this objective be integrated with development and poverty alleviation? Poverty and International Development Mainstreaming biodiversity and natural resources conservation within the poverty and development agenda is vital for real progress to be made at the Summit and beyond. Biodiversity conservation is a crucial issue for the world s poorest, and biodiversity and natural resources conservation must be part of an integrated plan to overcome poverty and provide food security, clean water and a better quality of life. International Finance Reviewing the GEF Accessing further funds from the transnational business community Making international aid bio-compatible (through biodiversity criteria and associated indicators) Innovative mechanisms of North-South funding transfer, including payment for ecological services, paying opportunity costs for not developing land (leaving global set-aside ) Increased funding for preservation of World Heritage Sites International Governance Streamlining the CBD and other biodiversity related Conventions Looking at ways of conserving biodiversity in regions of war, instability or poor governance Moving towards harmonised monitoring systems Further establishment of national clearing house mechanisms Education and Awareness Raising There is a distance between scientific expertise and public/political understanding, and a need for creative ways of educating, raising awareness, increasing information availability and engaging the media Mainstreaming Biodiversity Concerns in other Sectoral Issues Forest Management tackling illegal logging, promoting certification, addressing the bush meat trade Ocean Management including coral reefs and fisheries Freshwater and Sanitation recognising the links with ecosystems and biodiversity, using the UK s technological expertise and experiences of catchment-level management Science and Planning Expanding the role of the SBSTTA to the CBD, or establishing a new inter-governmental scientific organisation that can establish and publicise scientific consensus as the IPCC does for the UNFCCC. Planning global biodiversity conservation strategies, and examining the benefits of the hotspots approach DOMESTIC PRIORITIES: Reform of UK and EU agricultural policy, with environmental protection and biodiversity conservation as central aims. Promoting the role of the private sector in biodiversity conservation Improving the biodiversity impact of UK tourists and tourism companies Promoting education and awareness raising Promoting good practice examples from the UK: Particularly the UK s BAP and success of Local Biodiversity Action Plans Expanding the Darwin Initiative, and increasing the accessibility of funds for biodiversity and natural resources conservation Page 5 of 6

6 THE UK IN THE WIDER WORLD 1. GLOBALISATION We need to ensure that the three pillars of sustainable development are mainstreamed in international decisionmaking, from trade decisions right through to security decisions, and are not marginalized and separated. International co-operation to establish clear and concise global targets for sustainable development is a priority. We need to ensure that there is greater funding available to less developed countries wishing to pursue sustainable development paths. The role of trans-national corporations in global sustainable development needs to be examined and subjected to international scrutiny to ensure that business abides by environmental and social standards. Greater emphasis on regional level cooperation for setting, implementing and enforcing environmental standards, Establishment of an independent audit, which assesses the impact on sustainable development of past and future World Trade Organisation (WTO) trade agreements, Greater support for Less Developed Countries to pursue sustainable development through enhanced capacity building initiatives, Expansion in the remit and capacity of the Global Environmental Facility (GEF) - so that it can be of greater support to Less Developed Countries wishing to pursue sustainable development (i.e. not just incremental costs for global issues), and Adequate enforcement, and where necessary establishment, of legally binding rules on social and environmental standards for Trans-National Corporations (TNCs). 2. POVERTY AND GLOBAL EQUITY It is clear that the system of international finance does not help the poor, and that we need to go beyond the current economic paradigm for better measures of quality of life, and better ways of achieving it for poor people around the world. The International Development Targets are a start, and a proper global implementation plan to achieve these targets is required. Unless the developed countries give more money in aid, sustainable development in Less Developed Countries is impossible. There is a need for a reform of global trade agreements to better take into account the needs of the poor, control of the international arms trade, and an examination of international trade in food. 3. PEACE AND ENVIRONMENTAL SECURITY There are environmental security aspects to many current conflicts, including population movements, water resource shortages, and flooding. Environmental security threats are often medium or longer-term threats (e.g. global warming, desertification, habitat loss). They are not taken seriously by security establishments owing to the short-term focus of governments, and their continued reliance on traditional approaches to security that focus on the threats from other states or sub-state groups and which highlight military solutions. The group suggested that there is an urgent need to integrate assessments of both categories of threat military and environmental - and to consider possible synergies and tensions between them. This would complement traditional military security responses to outbreaks of conflict, and help to shape future security policy in ways that tackle the root causes of insecurity. The aim would be to formulate successful conflict prevention initiatives. In particular, governments should address the possible consequences of one or more powerful states opting for security policies which ruled out the option of closer international cooperation as a means of addressing common environmental threats to international security (notably global warming). Page 6 of 6