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Commission on Sustainable Development

By Paul Prospero, Pace University Model U.N.

In 1992 the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED), more commonly called the Earth Summit, was held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. More than 100 countries sent representatives and the presence of many more environmental activists increased attendance to over 14,000 people. The Earth Summit was part of a series of conferences called by Secretary Boutros Boutros-Ghali to set the Agenda of Development for the 21^st Century.

Serious and urgent environmental problems were addressed at the conference. More importantly there was an attempt to define development in terms that were sustainable. By sustainable development we mean becoming aware of the impact on the environment not only in the present, but at least two generations into the future. Actions we take now, will determine if future generations will have an earth, atmosphere, water and air that is healthy and useable to support life not only for humans but for as many species as possible.

Several agreements were signed at the Rio Summit including:

· The Framework Convention on Climate Change

· The Convention on Biological Diversity

· The Rio Declaration on Environment and Development

· Statement of Forest Principles

· Agenda 21: Programme of Action for Sustainable Development

Agenda 21 is a 300-page plan for achieving sustainable development in the 21st century. It contains forty chapters and is divided into four sections.

1. Social and Economic Dimensions

2. Conservation and Management of Resources for Development

3. Strengthening the Role of Major Groups

4. Means of Implementation

The Commission on Sustainable Development (CSD) was created in December 1992 to ensure that the plan of action in Agenda 21 would be implemented. The CSD was established as a functional commission of the Economic and Social Council by Council decision 1993/207. Its functions are set out in General Assembly Resolution 47/191 of 22 December 1992. The Commission is composed of 53 members elected for terms of offices for three years. Every year it meets for a period of two to three weeks to review parts of the Agenda 21. The CSD receives substantive and technical services from the Department of Economic and Social Affairs/Division for Sustainable Development. The Commission reports to the Economic and Social Council and, through it, to the Second Committee of the General Assembly.

It was agreed that a five-year review of the Earth Summit progress would be conducted in 1997. Called Earth Summit +5, this Special United Nations General Assembly meeting was held in June of 1997. The Earth Summit +5 produced a comprehensive document entitled “Programme for the Further Implementation of Agenda 21” prepared by the Commission on Sustainable Development.

The Earth Summit+5 adopted an agenda for the next five years called the programme of work of the Commission for 1998-2002. Each year three to five chapters of Agenda 21 is reviewed in a series of meetings at the United Nations in New York. Having the CSD review the Agenda each year insures that issues of sustainable development is kept before the eyes and ears of the public. According to the UN website:

The CSD also encourages governments and international organizations to host workshops and conferences on different environmental and cross-sectoral issues. The results of these expert-level meetings enhance the work of CSD and help the Commission to work better with national governments and various non-governmental partners in promoting sustainable development worldwide.

The objective of the PUMUNC CSD is to review one chapter of each of the four sections of Agenda 21. Each country has submitted in-depth reviews of how they have implemented Agenda 21. If you go to the website you will be rewarded with a great deal of information about most of the countries of the world agenda’s for action.

In Section One, the social and economic dimensions of sustainable development are enunciated and Chapter Three specifically focuses on combating poverty. You must find out what programs have taken place in your country the past eight years since the Earth Summit that have reduced poverty using sustainable development methods. Discussing innovative programs that reduce poverty may help another country learn what it can implement to attack the cycle of poverty. It is important to balance the rights of people to earn a living and the need to protect the atmosphere. We call such a balance sustainable livelihoods. Empowering communities by increasing the participation of larger numbers of people who living sustainably is good for the people and the communities. How have your countries helped women gain the right to end poverty? Have they increased the rights of youths to pursue education? Has your country even collected data on who is poverty-stricken so it may in the future determine whether or not conditions are improving as a result of implementing programs?

In Section Two, PUMUNC will ask each country to explore the ways in which the atmosphere is put in jeopardy by each member state represented in the CSD. Countries at every level of development impact the atmosphere in different ways. Take a look at Chapter Nine of Agenda 21. Has your country taken steps to produce energy in efficient and sustainable ways? Has it imposed emission standards on factory smoke stacks, transportation vehicles or slash and burn farming methods? Read and be able to share how your country has made progress in these critical areas.

The third section of Agenda 21 explores how the many groups that compose society must both independently and cooperatively work towards supporting sustainable development. PUMUNC will concentrate on Chapter 25, the role that children and youth play in supporting sustainable development. The youth of the world must increasingly gain the rights and responsibilities to make decisions to safeguard the future. How did students in your country use schools and communities to promote a sustainable future? Are the practices of one country transferable to another country?

The most important thing to consider when thinking about sustainable development is how to put thought into actions. Chapter 36 of Agenda 21 discusses how education, public awareness and training can be used to promote sustainable practices. Has your country redirected education towards developing knowledge of sustainable practices? Is there a growing awareness by the public that they have to change practices to achieve sustainable development? How has training been provided to help people develop sustainable practices in your country?