Commission on Sustainable Development

11th session, 28 April-9 May 2003

Speech bullet points:

· Pleased to comment on follow-up to the WSSD in Johannesburg and role of UN Commission on Sustainable Development (CSD).

· Support a vision of sustainable development that embraces economic growth, poverty eradication, social development and environmental improvement.

· Business is an integral part of that sustainable world - one with less poverty, less disease, less hunger, and greater access to education, safe water, sanitation, and energy.

· Sustainability depends on effective national governance based on democratic process and human rights protection.

· International community, including business, should move to implementation of the commitments, targets and initiatives agreed at WSSD.

· Recognise the CSD as an important vehicle to support and catalyze this effort. Other parts of the UN can also play supportive roles: UNDP in particular.

· Support the institutional reforms set out in the Johannesburg POI recommending negotiations limited to every two years, identifying themes and using relevant existing international meetings as focal points for partnerships.

· CSD should increase its use of electronic communications to reach targeted working groups and adapt the multi-stakeholder dialogue model to the challenges of implementation, inviting experts and practitioners to pursue cooperative problem-solving, rather than rhetorical debate.

· In pursuing more efficient and broadly accessible vehicles for cooperation and discussion, the number of me etings should be reduced and alternatives to meetings should be pursued.

Business will continue its strong, action-oriented, emphasis in follow-up to Business Action for Sustainable Development, particularly through the four 'I's:

The four 'I's of Business Action.

Innovation and Investment required, and the Implementation of policies which balance social, economic and environmental priorities.

· Business sector is the 'engine room' for innovative technology and investment for development, with its managerial, financial and technical expertise.

· Both foreign direct investment and domestic entrepreneurship will be made possible by real progress to improve governance, and strengthen human rights, private property and intellectual property protection, democratic processes, absence of corruption, rule of law, strong institutions, and science based, transparent and enforced regulatory frameworks.

· Business will continue to be a major agent for implementation - producer and provider of goods and services to society, employment, prosperity, new technologies and other solutions.

The fourth 'I' is Integration - the synergy of technology and investment with economic and development policies, which evolve through multi-lateral, multi-stakeholder and multi-dimensional processes - not simply "dialogues"!

· Integration of enabling frameworks that support technology development, commercialization, capacity building and cooperation.
· Integration of developing countries into world markets will allow them to benefit from globalization, through increased market access, more favourable terms of trade and the removal of non-tariff barriers.
· Integration must result in ACTION - which requires cooperation, commitment and capacity - leading to PARTNERSHIP.
· Integration involves identifying and forging working relationships and partnerships with governments and other stakeholders.
· Businesses and NGOs do not act in isolation; they work within the framework that governments establish.
· Many examples of business leadership, as highlighted in Monterrey, Johannesburg and elsewhere, e.g. Investment Advisory Council, NEPAD Business Group, etc.

· Suggest a fifth 'I' - Improvement. Business is improving its collateral social and environmental performance - with greater awareness of its responsibilities - especially among consumers, shareholders, employees and communities. Also improving livelihoods through research, education and foreign direct investment.

Specifics:
· Discuss and promote concrete implementation of the international governmental consensus reached at Johannesburg, along with Agenda 21 and the Millennium Development Goals.
· Launch and support partnerships and voluntary efforts by non-governmental enti ties that supplement those governmental efforts.
· Invite voluntary reporting and feedback on partnerships, to stimulate new partnerships and support existing ones.
· Support coordination of WSSD implementation with other similar ongoing efforts, such as follow-up to the Monterrey Conference on Financing for Development, and international agreements such as the Millennium Development Goals and Agenda 21.

Partnerships
WSSD recognized partnerships as a key means to supplement governmental efforts to attain the objectives of the Johannesburg POI and the Millennium Development Goals. Experience with implementation, extension and launch of partnerships should figure prominently in the CSD work plan.

Partnerships should:
· Address the three pillars of sustainable development, namely, economic progress, environmental protection and social development.
· Involve an appropriate range of stakeholders from different groups including governments, NGOs, business and other civil society members.
· Produce credible, measurable results with milestones and transparency.
· Be replicable, transferable and inspirational to others.

CSD should:
· Encourage the establishment of enabling frameworks for partnerships.
· Recognize the contribution and value of all partnerships, not only codified 'Type 2' initiatives:

The wider universe of partnerships

While the UN may focus on 'Type 2' partnerships, we believe that much can be learned from the wide range of partnerships. There are hundreds of initiatives that did not seek recognition as 'Type 2' partnerships, but which are rendering results in advancing sustainable development. One factor explaining why more initiatives did not seek 'Type 2' recognition arises from concern that such recognition would confer more burdens than advantages. CSD should ensure that participation in a 'Type 2' partnership represents true "added value" for those stakeholders - business, NGOs and governments - that seek such recognition.