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INFORM-A^CTION

Issue Number 45 - August 2002

The World Summit
on Sustainable Development

The World Summit on Sustainable Development (WSSD) will be held in Johannesburg from 26 August to 4 September this year. It will bring together tens of thousands of participants, including Heads of State and Governments, national delegates and leaders from non-governmental organisations (NGOs), businesses and other major groups. The Summit will focus the world's attention on actions to achieve sustainable development and is being organised by the UN Commission on Sustainable Development (known as CSD 10).

The roadmap for achieving sustainable development was adopted ten years ago at the Rio Summit and is known as Agenda 21. The main objective of the Johannesburg Summit is to reinvigorate political commitment to sustainable development. It is expected that the Summit will conclude with a clear and unambiguous statement from world leaders, in the form of a Johannesburg Declaration, reaffirming their commitment to work towards sustainable future. Also, a negotiated implementation plan will outline priority actions needed for sustainable development. In addition, governments, civil society and businesses are being encouraged to bring forward partnership initiatives that will address specific problems and lead to measurable results that will improve people's lives around the world.

Sustainable development calls for improving the quality of life for all of the world's people without increasing the use of our natural resources beyond the earth's carrying capacity. While sustainable development may require different actions in every region of the world, the efforts to build a truly sustainable way of life require the integration of action in three key areas:

Economic Growth and Equity: Today's interlinked, global economic systems demand an integrated approach in order to foster responsible long-term growth while ensuring that no nation or community is left behind.

Conserving Natural Resources and the Environment: To conserve our environmental heritage and natural resources for future generations, economically viable solutions must be developed to reduce resource consumption, stop pollution and conserve natural habitats.

Social Development: Throughout the world, people require jobs, food, education, energy, health care, water and sanitation. While addressing these needs, the world community must also ensure that the rich fabric of cultural and social diversity, and the rights of workers, are respected, and that all members of society are empowered to play a role in determining their futures.

Source: Fact Sheets: Johannesburg Summit 2002. More detailed information can be obtained from the World Summit on Sustainable Development website.

SAO staffer Pauline Coll sgs will be attending the WSSD under the auspice of Mercy Global Concern, New York, and will be part of the International Ecumenical Team who has been working towards an appropriate outcome from the Summit Meeting since the Earth Summit in Rio in 1992. Mary Tinney rsm is also attending. Annette Shears pbvm and Carmel Boyle pbvm attended a Preparatory Meeting for the WSSD in Bali in June 2002.

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		INFORM-A^CTION Issue Number 45 - August 2002 The World Summit on Sustainable Development The World Summit on Sustainable Development (WSSD) will be held in Johannesburg from 26 August to 4 September this year. It will bring together tens of thousands of participants, including Heads of State and Governments, national delegates and leaders from non-governmental organisations (NGOs), businesses and other major groups. The Summit will focus the world's attention on actions to achieve sustainable development and is being organised by the UN Commission on Sustainable Development (known as CSD 10). The roadmap for achieving sustainable development was adopted ten years ago at the Rio Summit and is known as Agenda 21. The main objective of the Johannesburg Summit is to reinvigorate political commitment to sustainable development. It is expected that the Summit will conclude with a clear and unambiguous statement from world leaders, in the form of a Johannesburg Declaration, reaffirming their commitment to work towards sustainable future. Also, a negotiated implementation plan will outline priority actions needed for sustainable development. In addition, governments, civil society and businesses are being encouraged to bring forward partnership initiatives that will address specific problems and lead to measurable results that will improve people's lives around the world. Sustainable development calls for improving the quality of life for all of the world's people without increasing the use of our natural resources beyond the earth's carrying capacity. While sustainable development may require different actions in every region of the world, the efforts to build a truly sustainable way of life require the integration of action in three key areas: Economic Growth and Equity: Today's interlinked, global economic systems demand an integrated approach in order to foster responsible long-term growth while ensuring that no nation or community is left behind. Conserving Natural Resources and the Environment: To conserve our environmental heritage and natural resources for future generations, economically viable solutions must be developed to reduce resource consumption, stop pollution and conserve natural habitats. Social Development: Throughout the world, people require jobs, food, education, energy, health care, water and sanitation. While addressing these needs, the world community must also ensure that the rich fabric of cultural and social diversity, and the rights of workers, are respected, and that all members of society are empowered to play a role in determining their futures. Source: Fact Sheets: Johannesburg Summit 2002. More detailed information can be obtained from the World Summit on Sustainable Development website. SAO staffer Pauline Coll sgs will be attending the WSSD under the auspice of Mercy Global Concern, New York, and will be part of the International Ecumenical Team who has been working towards an appropriate outcome from the Summit Meeting since the Earth Summit in Rio in 1992. Mary Tinney rsm is also attending. Annette Shears pbvm and Carmel Boyle pbvm attended a Preparatory Meeting for the WSSD in Bali in June 2002. Next Newsletter Article Newsletter Index