High Level Ministerial Segment, 12th session, UN CSD
Minister Børge Brende (Norway), Chair.

Dr S. J. Lennon

Interactive discussion with Major Groups on their role and contribution in achieving the goals and targets defined in the Johannesburg Plan of Implementation and the Millennium Development Goals, and particularly by releasing the energy of local entrepreneurs and partnerships.

Statement by Dr S. J. Lennon, Chair, ICC Commission on Environment and Energy

Mr Chairman,

At the WSSD, the Business sector said it is now time to roll up our sleeves and get working in the achievement of sustainable development. This is still our contention, and I would like to highlight those key enablers that we feel will permit all stakeholders, particularly business, to effectively implement the ambitious targets that are so essential for global equity and redress:

Firstly good governance is essential. We need well defined and consistently enforced regulatory systems and institutions free of bribery and corruption and supportive of democracy and the rule of law. There are working systems in place in developed and developing countries around the globe - we need to identify and share these positive practices. A particular issue of relevance under good governance is the one of ownership. The business sector firmly believes that water ownership should remain in public hands, at the level of local government, with the potential for contracting with the private sector for the operation of water and sanitation services.

Secondly, you have already amply spoken of the business case for sanitation and water supply globally - with the costs of provision being lower than the current costs of mitigating the negative costs of inadequate water supply and sanitation. The challenge is to develop innovative financing mechanisms to unlock this value. This is a particular area where governments and the private sector need to work together in mobilising global, national and local resources in the achievement of local goals for water, sanitation and housing infrastructure.

Thirdly, it needs to be emphasised that the business sector is active in the entire water and sanitation value chain, from the protection of catchment areas, through the construction of water infrastructure and water delivery, to the efficient and effective end use of water and the management of the water life cycle. There are many examples of where business and industry has been able to reduce water use considerably - for example in the power sector in my country of South Africa, as well as in the agricultural sector globally. This clearly requires technological innovation and capacity building - something business has a long and successful track record in. We need to identify and share these practices.

Fourthly, partnerships have always been regarded by business as the key mechanism to apply in the achievement of the MDGs. There are many successful examples of partnerships currently underway, working hard at the delivery of the MDGs - especially at a local level. Few of these are captured as type 2 partnerships - mainly due to the partners getting down and doing it. The fact is that these partnerships are happening and delivering - we need to be more aware of successful models and replicate them in effective service delivery.

The bottom line is that we have the answers to service delivery - we just need to create the enabling environment, develop the financing mechanisms, apply the technologies, and develop the related capacity, all through effective partnerships. I am convinced that we will be able to do this through sharing our experiences and implementing these at the local level. In conclusion I would like to emphasise that the model I have referred to here, whilst developed for input to the water, sanitation and housing issues, is equally applicable to the successful achievement of all of the MDGs. That means that if we get it right now, we should find the next phase of CSD a lot easier to achieve.

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