Transcript Information for Sustainable Development

Preparations for the
International Meeting
to review implementation of the
Barbados Program of Action
AOSIS expectations from the
preparations and the review process
The process of the review
• Need to ensure the widest possible SIDS
ownership of the review,within and between
– national level consultations and draft reports
(March-December 2003)
– regional preparatory meetings (late 2003)
– thematic expert group meetings (through 2003)
– inter-regional preparatory meeting (early 2004)
– International Meeting (end of August 2004)
UN SIDS Unit www.SIDSnet.org
AOSIS
General Assembly mandate
• Called on SIDS and international community
to provide information on implementation
• Reduce reporting burden on SIDS - funding
needed, short single questionnaire
• DESA to develop modalities, coordinate
preparations and meetings, in consultation with
SIDS and SIDS regional organizations
• Internal UN coordination needed
UN SIDS Unit www.SIDSnet.org
AOSIS
National review
• Questionnaire developed in close consultation
with SIDS Governments and SIDS experts
• Builds on WSSD reports, as well as other
relevant reports - bear in mind different stages
• Involvement of stakeholders - seeks to draw in
the various sectors relevant to sustainable
development
• Information gathered should be used by all UN
system
UN SIDS Unit www.SIDSnet.org
AOSIS
Contents of the questionnaire
• Looks at information relevant to the sectoral
chapters of BPOA - progress, linkages, etc.
– climate change, natural disasters, etc.
• Brings in cross-cutting issues, as well as
MDGs
–
–
–
–
trade
investment
capacity building
cooperation
UN SIDS Unit www.SIDSnet.org
AOSIS
1. Socio-economic context
• Allows for descriptive setting of report and
national circumstances
• Physical and geographic (coral atolls,
archipelago, volcanic, etc
• Structure of economy (what is dominant sector
of economy, etc)
• Key constraints (population growth, resource
depletions, capacity needs, etc)
UN SIDS Unit www.SIDSnet.org
AOSIS
2. National framework for
sustainable development
• What structures have been put in place?
• What is the membership of any committee or
commission dealing with sustainable
development
• How successful has the committee been?
• Describe reasons for success
• Development of national sustainable
development strategy?
UN SIDS Unit www.SIDSnet.org
AOSIS
3. Progress made and obstacles
encountered
• Consideration of sectoral chapters, eg climate
change - eg. issues on the ratification
• Ensure full utilization of the national
communication and other reports where
available
• Key importance of using climate change focal
points and national framework established for
FCCC
UN SIDS Unit www.SIDSnet.org
AOSIS
4. Cross-sectoral issues
• Introduction to trade, investment, capacity
building and cooperation
• Seeking out information on appropriate
structures, corrective actions taken
• Attempts to gather information relevant to
vulnerability studies
• Holistic view of sustainable development
UN SIDS Unit www.SIDSnet.org
AOSIS
5. Millennium Development
Goals
• Essential that SIDS address the MDG and
outline relevance of BPOA
• Show how poverty in SIDS context have
special circumstances
• Outlines for successful education cooperation
• In implementing BPOA, SIDS implement
MDG
UN SIDS Unit www.SIDSnet.org
AOSIS
6
EMERGING CONCERNS
AND SPECIAL NEEDS
Information on any emerging
concerns eg. the impacts of security
concerns, drug trade, fiscal shocks,
or a summary project partnership
proposals/concepts
Special initiatives for the regional
and inter-regional level
UN SIDS Unit www.SIDSnet.org
AOSIS
Next steps
• All SIDS that require funding should have
access ASAP
• All SIDS should have draft national reports
by end December 2003 (posted on
SIDSNet)
• Can be refined, revisited and adjusted
• Final versions can be produced in time for
International Meeting (August 2004)
• Gather relevant input from other SIDS and
from expert meetings
UN SIDS Unit www.SIDSnet.org
AOSIS
Regional Meetings
• Pacific Apia, Samoa 4-8 August
• Atlantic, Indian Ocean, Mediterranean and
South China Sea Group, Praia, Cape Verde,
1-5 September
• Caribbean Port of Spain, Trinidad and
Tobago, 6 to 9 October
• SIDS organizations, experts, NGOs invited
• Synthesize the key concerns and
constraints, and develop solutions and best
practices
UN SIDS Unit www.SIDSnet.org
AOSIS
Output from regional Meetings
• Regional position papers to be developed
• To be based on the format of the questionnaires
• Since region has draft reports, should be able to do
their position paper here in Port of Spain
• Should inform the SIDS Unit and AOSIS in the
preparations for Bahamas
• SIDS Unit should synthesize the key concerns and
constraints, and hence suggest solutions and best
practices – but can only do so if there is
information from SIDS
UN SIDS Unit www.SIDSnet.org
AOSIS
Inter-regional Meeting
• Will be held end January 2004, Bahamas,
organized by DESA through SIDS Unit
• Brings together all SIDS
• Develop concrete suggestions for a strategy
of implementation for BPOA
• Develop elements for a Mauritius
Declaration
UN SIDS Unit www.SIDSnet.org
AOSIS
International Preparatory
Meeting
• Will be held in context of 12th session of
Commission on Sustainable Development
meeting at UN (decision now considered)
• Presentation of key SIDS concerns and
strategy for implementation
• Development of Mauritius Agenda
• Further refinement of elements for a
Mauritius Declaration
UN SIDS Unit www.SIDSnet.org
AOSIS
International Meeting
• Mauritius August September 2004
• High Level Segment
• Plans for civil society forum, SIDS business
forum, cultural events, eminent persons
group
• Adoption of Mauritius Declaration and
agreement on further implementation
UN SIDS Unit www.SIDSnet.org
AOSIS
Conclusion
• National preparations are very important, hence
need for adequate funding for national report
preparations
• AOSIS needs to develop its position on the new
emerging issues of trade, security, HIV/AIDS and
the improvement of cooperation
• SIDS must go to Bahamas well informed,
including the expert meetings
• Build on common and shared strengths
• Make SIDS sustainable development leaders
• International Meeting may be last chance to make
the special case for SIDS
UN SIDS Unit www.SIDSnet.org
AOSIS
Thank you
www.sidsnet.org
UN SIDS Unit www.SIDSnet.org
AOSIS