NATURAL DISASTERS AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

Proposed strategy of action in the preparation of the World Summit on Sustainable Development, WSSD IATF 4, 15-16 Nov. 2001

Objective

 To include

disaster reduction as a key element for sustainable development

in the expected Johannesburg Programme of Action  Also as crosscutting issue in relevant chapters and segments

WSSD in Johannesburg, 2-11 September 2002

 "People, Planet, Prosperity". The presumptions to address are: 

Poverty and inequality are the greatest threat to sustainable global development in 21 st century,



Seriously tackling inequality will involve changes in terms of trade, investment, debt relief,



Governments cannot do this alone partnership with business, industry and civil society is essential.

Background WSSD

 Review of implementation of Agenda 21, Rio Principles and ratification of conventions adopted in Rio 1992 UNCED – Climate change, biodiversity, forest, (desertification) 

Johannesburg Programme of Action

expected, based on commitments for targets, delivery mechanisms, resources and monitoring.

Issues in Agenda 21 relating to disaster reduction

  

Chapter 7

"Promoting sustainable human settlement development",

Chapter 11:

“... Combating deforestation and drought”;

Chapter 13

”... Sustainable mountain development",  

Chapter 17

"Protection of the oceans...",

Chapter 18

: “... freshwater resources: application of integrated approaches..”

WSSD focus

 Shift in emphasis from purely environmental issues to the importance of sustainable social and economic development  needs of the developing world, ie the intersection between poverty, environment and development.

Issues at WSSD- tentative

•Financing for sustainable development •Technology transfer •Global trade agreements and the environment •Access to water •Access to energy •Environmental health •Air and atmosphere •Vulnerability to natural disasters •Land degradation •Unsustainable exploitation of marine resources .

Attendance WSSD

Some 70 000 delegates are expected:  110 to 193 heads of state  6 000 UN delegates  60 000 delegates to the Civil Society  2 000 VIP global business leaders  3 000 Journalists

Preparatory process WSSD

 National Assessments  Regional Assessments and Prep. Meetings  Stakeholder meetings for partnership during 2002

(UNEP, UNDP, Capacity21 and others)

 Preparatory Committee (Commission on Sustainable Devlopment, CSD-10)  Key partner is UN/DESA

Important links

 Important links to highlight and build on during the preparatory process:  Climate Change and desertification, and links to both conventions.

 Poverty Eradication Plans and Programmes  Food security  Stakeholders meetings  Others….

Some actions taken, ISDR

 Meeting with WSSD Bureau  Participation in Regional Prep. Meetings in Europe, Africa and Latin America and the Caribbean  Particpation in related meetings  Some lobbying with Governments and national counterparts

Proposed further action

 Back ground documentation

(expert input)

 Active Preparatory Committee CSD10 participation  Participation in key meetings and fora  Work with national and regional counterparts, committees and platforms

Documentation

 SG report (for PrepCom 2)  Background document including: – Relation to other areas: poverty eradication, health, climate change, combating desertification, human settlements, freshwater, mountains, biodiversity, gender sensitiveness, information for decision making, globalisation, etc, – Programme of action recommendations (targets, delivery mechanisms, resources and monitoring)

Some deadlines

for Back ground documents to PrepComs:  20 December- 01: PrepCom II (first outline for Agenda WSSD and Programme for Action)  20 February- 02: Third PrepCom III  6 April -03: PrepCom IV  1 July: Submission on proposal for side event for the Summit

Expert consultations

 Improve back ground document and provide recommendations on targets  Seek opportunities back to back to other meetings for “Brain stormings” and technical input  Internet discussion, web support

Supporting documentation

 Several global reports under preparation, useful for WSSD: – Global review on disaster reduction (ISDR) – World Vulnerability Report (UNDP) – Global Environmental Outlook (UNEP) – World Disaster Report (IFRC) – World Water Report – Millenium Ecosystem Assessment (WRI) – others....

Preparatory Committees

 PrepCom II, New York, – 21 January-8 February, 2002 (includes stakeholder dialogue)  Third PrepCom III, New York, – 25 March-5 April, 2002  Fourth PrepCom IV, Jakarta, Indonesia, – 6-17 May, 2002  Possible with side events

Side events

 For Prepcom II Proposals submitted by

10 December 2001

.  For Prepcom III Proposals must be submitted by

11 February 2002

.  For Prepcom IV Proposals must be submitted by

8 April 2002

.  For WSSD, Johannesburg, proposals submitted by

1 July 2002.

Some key meetings and fora

 Regional preparatory meeting: Asia, Cambodia,

27-29 November 2001

 International Conference on Freshwater:

Bonn, 3-7 December, 2001,

 India, Delhi: Asia ISDR committees ADRC/Japan:

21 Jan. 2002

 Global Environmental Ministerial Meeting,

Cartagena Colombia, 13-15 Feb 2002

 World Food Summit,

Rome, May (?) 2002

Seeking national commitment

 Work with national and regional counterparts, committees and platforms within each consituency of ISDR partners and IATF members link disaster reduction ans development consituencies  “Spread the message”

Special segment or panel at WSSD

 Depending on the development of the Prep.Coms, plans for a special segment or panel during the WSSD should be developed with interested partner agencies.

Decide before 4th PrepCom

 Proposal to be prepared by the Secretariat in consultation with partners

2001

Dec Jan

WSSD time line

Mar

2002

May Sep

Sum up for discussion IATF: Proposed further action

 Back ground documentation - possible

expert consultations / meetings

 Active Preparatory Committee CSD10 participation,

side events?

 Participation in key meetings and for a:

which ones and who?

 Work with national and regional counterparts, committees and platforms