Sustainable World

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UNITED
NATIONS


                                                          Distr.
                                                          GENERAL

                                                          A/50/453
                                                          20 September 1995

                                                          ORIGINAL: ENGLISH

General Assembly
Fiftieth session
Item 98 (a) of the provisional agenda*

     *    A/50/150.


             ENVIRONMENT AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT:  IMPLEMENTATION
             OF DECISIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE UNITED NATIONS
                   CONFERENCE ON ENVIRONMENT AND DEVELOPMENT

             Proposals on the format, scope and organizational aspects
             of the 1997 special session of the General Assembly on
                 the overall review and appraisal of Agenda 21

                        Report of the Secretary-General

                                     SUMMARY

      Under Agenda 21, the General Assembly was entrusted with the task
of regularly reviewing implementation of the commitments it contained.
In its resolution 47/190, the Assembly decided to convene, not later
than in 1997, a special session for the purpose of an overall review
and appraisal of Agenda 21, and requested the Secretary-General to
prepare a report on the modalities for the organization and scope of
such a special session.  In accordance with that mandate, the present
report contains proposals concerning the scope of the discussions,
including priorities for future action and the institutional
framework, and organizational matters.  The report presents proposals
on the documentation to be prepared for the session and also on the
session's possible outcome.  As to organizational matters, the report
covers the possible timing of, level of representation at and
participation of major groups in the special session.  The report
suggests guidelines for conducting the preparatory process for the
session, including the role to be played by the Commission on
Sustainable Development at its fifth session.


                                   CONTENTS

                                                            Paragraphs  Page

   I.  INTRODUCTION ........................................   1 - 10      3

       A.  Mandate .........................................   1 - 3       3

       B.  Background:  United Nations Conference on
           Environment and Development and related processes   4 - 10      3

  II.  SCOPE OF THE DISCUSSION .............................  11 - 21      5

       A.  Priorities ......................................  11 - 16      5

       B.  Institutional framework .........................  17 - 21      6

 III.  DOCUMENTATION .......................................  22 - 24      8

  IV.  OUTCOME OF THE SPECIAL SESSION ......................     25        8

   V.  ORGANIZATIONAL ASPECTS OF THE SPECIAL SESSION .......  26 - 31      9

  VI.  LEVEL OF REPRESENTATION .............................  32 - 33     10

 VII.  PARTICIPATION OF MAJOR GROUPS .......................  34 - 37     10

VIII.  PREPARATORY PROCESS .................................  38 - 40     11


                               I.  INTRODUCTION


                                  A.  Mandate

1.   In its resolution 47/190 of 22 December 1992, the General Assembly
endorsed the Rio Declaration on Environment and Development, Agenda 21
and the Non-legally Binding Authoritative Statement of Principles for
a Global Consensus on the Management, Conservation and Sustainable
Development of All Types of Forests, as adopted at the United Nations
Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED) on 14 June 1992.

2.   In the same resolution, the General Assembly, on the
recommendation of the Conference, decided to convene, not later than
1997, a special session for the purpose of an overall review and
appraisal of Agenda 21, and requested the Secretary-General to submit
to it at its forty-ninth session a report containing recommendations
for its consideration on the format, scope and organizational aspects
of such a special session.

3.   Taking into account the fact that a number of intergovernmental
processes that had been recommended in Agenda 21 were currently taking
place or had only recently been concluded, the Secretary-General
proposed, in a note to the Assembly at its forty-ninth session
(A/49/463), that it postpone discussion of the format, scope and
organizational aspects of the special session of the General Assembly
in 1997 to a later stage; the Assembly took note of the proposal in
its decision 49/437.


           B.  Background:  United Nations Conference on Environment and
               Development and related processes

4.   UNCED represented a milestone in promoting international
cooperation and action on sustainable development, and had a profound
effect on the work of the organizations and bodies of the United
Nations system.  UNCED recommendations also identified specific
actions to be undertaken in order to achieve sustainable development
at national and regional levels.

5.   Since UNCED, a large number of intergovernmental processes that
had been recommended in Agenda 21 have completed their work.  The
United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification in those Countries
Experiencing Serious Drought and/or Desertification, particularly in
Africa was opened for signatures in October 1994.  The Global
Conference on the Sustainable Development of Small Island Developing
States (Bridgetown, Barbados, 25 April-6 May 1994), adopted the
Declaration of Barbados and the Programme of Action for the
Sustainable Development of Small Island Developing States.  The United
Nations Conference on Straddling Fish Stocks and Highly Migratory Fish
Stocks concluded its proceedings with the adoption of the Agreement
for the Implementation of the Provisions of the United Nations
Convention on the Law of the Sea of 10 December 1982 relating to the
Conservation and Management of Straddling Fish Stocks and Highly
Migratory Fish Stocks.  During this period, the Global Environment
Facility, managed jointly by the World Bank, the United Nations
Development Programme (UNDP) and the United Nations Environment
Programme (UNEP), has been replenished and restructured in order to
enable universal participation in its decision-making.  The United
Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and the Convention on
Biological Diversity, which were opened for signatures during UNCED,
have both entered into force and have already held their first
meetings of Conferences of the Parties.  The outcomes of these
processes, together with Agenda 21 and the Rio Declaration on
Environment and Development, are commonly referred to as the Rio
commitments and will have to be considered by the General Assembly at
its special session if it is to obtain a full picture of the results
achieved.

6.   Furthermore, a number of major international conferences held
since UNCED, such as the World Conference on Human Rights, the
International Conference on Population and Development, the World
Summit for Social Development, and the Fourth World Conference on
Women, as well as the forthcoming Second United Nations Conference on
Human Settlements (Habitat II), are also closely related to the
implementation of Agenda 21, since they add substantially to the
international understanding and consensus on various critical elements
of sustainable development; the comprehensive review of Agenda 21 also
needs to take into account the outcomes of these conferences as well.

7.   At its substantive session of 1995, the Economic and Social
Council decided on the modalities of a comprehensive and coordinated
follow-up to major international conferences in the economic, social
and related fields.  In his report to the Council (E/1995/86), the
Secretary-General presented his views on how this coordinated approach
could be furthered, including the establishment of the relevant
monitoring mechanisms, with a view to promoting programme
harmonization and policy integration at both the country level and the
inter-agency level, as well as at the intergovernmental level.  The
Council decided that, within the framework of its coordination
segment, it would carry out a review each year of cross-cutting themes
common to major international conferences, and/or would contribute to
an overall review of the implementation of the programme of action of
a United Nations conference.

8.   The finalization of the discussions on an agenda for development,
which will integrate many of the above-mentioned initiatives, will
also have a major impact on the special session.

9.   In considering preparations for such an overall review and
post-1997 arrangements, special focus needs to be given to the outcome
of the 1995 substantive session of the Economic and Social Council.
In the first instance, the Council, in selecting themes for its
coordination segment, may wish to choose a theme that would maximize
its contribution to the 1997 review of Agenda 21.  Such a theme could
focus on one major cross-sectoral issue or on a sectoral issue for
which greater attention is required.

10.  To fulfil the mandate of UNCED and other conferences,
institutional arrangements have been established.  The
intergovernmental follow-up of UNCED has remained within the framework
of the United Nations system and is the special responsibility of the
General Assembly, as the supreme policy-making forum providing overall
guidance to Governments, the United Nations system and relevant treaty
bodies.  In addition to the General Assembly, the Economic and Social
Council has been provided with the responsibility of providing system-
wide coordination, and of overseeing implementation of Agenda 21 and
making recommendations in that regard.


                         II.  SCOPE OF THE DISCUSSIONS

                                A.  Priorities

11.  The overall review of the implementation of Agenda 21 by the
General Assembly at its special session will need to determine the
critical areas of sustainability for the years to come.  The concept
of sustainable development encompasses economic, social, environmental
and institutional dimensions.  The identification of the critical
areas of sustainability will have to be based on a comprehensive
review of the progress achieved in the implementation of the Rio
commitments at all levels, taking into account relevant conclusions of
subsequent global conferences.  The objective should be to maintain
the political momentum and give a clear sense of direction for future
actions to be taken by Governments, intergovernmental bodies and major
groups aimed at reaching sustainable development.  The Assembly will
have to identify priorities at the special session, including
priorities for the institutional follow-up to UNCED and the role of
the United Nations system, in particular the Commission on Sustainable
Development.

12.  In identifying the critical constraints to the implementation of
the Rio commitments at the local, country, regional and international
levels and the means for Governments, international organizations and
major groups to overcome them, the Assembly may wish to consider
strengthening its substantive activities as well as adopting
supportive measures necessary for the achievement of sustainable
development goals, such as the provision of financial resources,
transfer of environmentally sound technologies and creation of
institutional mechanisms.

13.  Further, in the light of paragraphs 7 to 9 above, the
recommendations of the Assembly could include the identification of
possible themes for future consideration by the Council or its
subsidiary bodies, particularly the Commission on Sustainable
Development, with a view to ensuring a harmonized and non-duplicative
approach to the issues involved.

14.  Public awareness and the promotion of sustainable development
values through, inter alia, educational systems, remain major tasks
necessary for the successful implementation of the Rio commitments.
The Assembly may wish to explore further means of enhancing this
process.

15.  The Assembly may also wish to place a special emphasis on the
issue of sustainable consumption and production patterns as an
umbrella concept that facilitates the integration of environmental and
economic questions.  If the Assembly decides to do so, those
provisions will have to be consequently reflected in the work
programme of the Commission.

16.  The Commission on Sustainable Development has approved a work
programme on indicators on sustainable development; its implementation
is under way.  The Commission has encouraged Governments to develop or
conduct studies on the development of indicators of sustainable
development in accordance with specific national conditions.  Their
elaboration will have a significant impact on the process of
monitoring progress achieved since UNCED.  The Commission provides the
necessary platform for the preparation of such indicators; at the
special session, the Assembly could provide the necessary stimulus for
their broad application.


                          B.  Institutional framework

17.  On the recommendation of Agenda 21 and in order to ensure the
effective follow-up of the Conference, as well as to enhance
international cooperation, rationalize the intergovernmental decision-
making capacity for the integration of environment and development
issues and examine the progress in the implementation of Agenda 21 at
the national, regional and international levels, the Economic and
Social Council established the Commission on Sustainable Development
as a subsidiary body.  Since its first session, the Commission has
developed certain innovative characteristics:

     (a) The Commission has managed to maintain a high political
profile.  The high-level segment of the Commission is attended by
large numbers of ministers and high-level decision makers from all
over the world.  Attendance is not limited solely to ministers of
environment; ministers for development, agriculture, forestry and
finance also participate.  The Assembly may wish to further encourage
this type of participation as a means of fully integrating a whole
spectrum of different aspects of sustainable development;

     (b) The Commission has incorporated into its work, on an
unprecedented scale, the representatives of major groups involved in
the promotion of sustainable development.  Major groups are consulted
on a variety of issues in the course of the inter-sessional period,
and the dialogue between them and member States during Commission
sessions has also been steadily reinforced.  The secretariat of the
Commission collects and analyses information on major groups'
involvement in Agenda 21 implementation;

     (c) Commission activities are not limited to its annual sessions.
The Commission provides a framework for a larger process of inter-
sessional meetings, the outcomes of which it subsequently reviews and
analyses.  It has also established two ad hoc working groups that hold
sessions prior to the meetings of the Commission in order to prepare
its discussions on specific agenda items.  Duration of those ad hoc
working group meetings, as well as subjects to be discussed, are
determined by the Commission at its consecutive sessions and remain
flexible but harmonized with its programme of work.  These year-round
activities are coordinated by the Bureau of the Commission, which
meets regularly in order to take the best advantage of the above-
mentioned events while preparing for the main session of the
Commission.  Efforts have been made to make this process transparent
and to make information on meetings and their outcomes widely
available;

     (d) Monitoring of the implementation of UNCED commitments by the
Commission has involved the whole United Nations system.  Various
organizations and bodies have participated in the preparations for and
the proceedings of the Commission.  Task managers from the
organizations of the United Nations system have been nominated to
ensure an effective and coordinated follow-up in the sectoral and
cross-sectoral issues identified by Agenda 21.  The coordination of
those activities has been entrusted by the Administrative Committee on
Coordination to the Inter-Agency Committee for Sustainable Development
(IACSD);

     (e) The Commission has also developed a capacity for monitoring
at all levels the implementation of the Rio commitments.  Its
particularly innovative role is the monitoring of progress achieved
and major obstacles encountered at the national level, through
voluntary reporting by member States.  The Commission has been able to
analyse a number of the reports presented to date.  The Commission
also serves as a platform for the exchange of information on national
policies and practices introduced as a result of UNCED;

     (f) Interaction between intergovernmental bodies active in the
area of sustainable development is increasing.  For example, the
Council of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations
(FAO) considered the issues related to land management that were also
on the agenda of the third session of the Commission; a ministerial
meeting on forestry was convened by FAO prior to the Commission's
third session; and the UNEP Governing Council, after the fourth
session of the Commission, made a decision in which it emphasized the
need for UNEP to continue to provide effective support to the work of
the Commission, inter alia, through the provision of scientific,
technical and policy information and advice on environment.  Some
other intergovernmental bodies also committed themselves to
substantively contributing to the work of the Commission.

18.  The General Assembly may wish to:

     (a) Build further on the above-mentioned characteristics of the
Commission, while deciding on the desirable focus of its future
activities;

     (b) Provide guidance concerning the priorities for the further
work of the Commission, particularly as reflected in its multi-year
thematic work programme;

     (c) Consider ways and means of enhancing policy coherence and
further strengthening coordination between the Commission and other
appropriate intergovernmental bodies;

     (d) Give further support to the system of task managers as an
effective mechanism for meeting the demands related to the functioning
of IACSD while implementing Agenda 21 in respective thematic areas.

19.  In accordance with its resolution 47/191, at the special session
the Assembly is also expected to review the organizational modalities
for the Commission.  The Assembly could thus reflect on aspects of the
existing structure of the Commission, such as the organization of its
high-level segment and general debate, the participation of major
groups, side events and the functioning of its Bureau.

20.  The review of the institutional framework established for the
implementation of the Rio commitments should also examine innovations
and changes that have taken place since UNCED in the policies,
programmes and structures of the organizations and bodies of the
United Nations system, as well as in the activities of non-United
Nations institutions.

21.  The General Assembly is also expected to decide on the next review
timetable for assessing further progress in achieving sustainable
development goals in the period after the special session.


                              III.  DOCUMENTATION

22.  The General Assembly may wish to request the Secretary-General to
prepare a comprehensive report on the overall assessment of the
progress achieved since UNCED in the implementation of Agenda 21, the
Rio Declaration on Environment and Development and related conference
outcomes, as well as on recommendations for future actions and
priorities, including those concerning institutional matters, in
particular the role of the Commission on Sustainable Development.

23.  Such a comprehensive report would draw upon concise reports that
will be prepared for the fifth session of the Commission and would
contain an assessment of progress achieved in specific sectoral and
cross-sectoral areas, as well as recommendations for future action.
The Commission would thus be able to undertake the review process and
analyse progress achieved with a view to preparing for the special
session.  The above-mentioned concise reports will also serve as
background documentation for the Assembly's deliberations; the
modalities for their preparation will be a subject for discussion by
IACSD.

24.  On the basis of national reports received so far and expected for
forthcoming sessions of the Commission, and in close cooperation with
the Governments concerned, the Commission secretariat intends to
prepare country profiles aimed at a concise presentation of progress
made and constraints encountered in implementing Agenda 21.  These
country profiles will be presented to the Commission at its 1997
session to allow for the review of the progress achieved at the
national level.


                      IV.  OUTCOME OF THE SPECIAL SESSION

25.  The General Assembly may wish to reflect on the possible outcome
of the 1997 review exercise.  One option would be to prepare a
substantive document in the form of a political declaration assessing
progress achieved and setting priorities for future action on how to
best reach sustainable development goals. Such a declaration could
build on the review of progress achieved in the implementation of the
Rio commitments as well as the achievements of recently held major
United Nations conferences and an agenda for development.  It should
also take into consideration the institutional aspects of future
monitoring of Agenda 21 implementation by the appropriate United
Nations bodies.


               V.  ORGANIZATIONAL ASPECTS OF THE SPECIAL SESSION

26.  Eighteen special sessions of the General Assembly have been
organized to discuss topics of special importance to the international
community.  The last (eighteenth) special session was held from
23 April to 1 May 1990 to discuss the theme "Economic cooperation, in
particular the revitalization of the economic growth and development
of the developing countries".  Previous special sessions of the
General Assembly did not establish any fixed pattern as far as
duration or level of representation are concerned.

27.  Drawing on experience from previous special sessions of the
General Assembly, the organization of UNCED and other major
conferences organized in recent years under the auspices of the United
Nations, including the International Conference on Population and
Development and the World Summit for Social Development, the
Secretary-General has suggested that the session be held for a period
of five working days, a time-frame that will accommodate the
statements of the representatives of all Member States and will allow
for interaction with United Nations agencies and the representatives
of major groups.

28.  If the need arises, the General Assembly could allocate some time
for a preconsultation in the week(s) preceding the session.

29.  Bearing in mind the provisions of its resolution 47/190, the
Assembly may decide that the special session should be a self-standing
event and that it should take place before its fifty-second session.
Alternatively, at its current session, the Assembly may consider the
possibility of building the review exercise into its fifty-second
session, to be held in 1997.

30.  Should the Assembly decide on the former alternative, having
considered the calendar of conferences for 1997 and the fact that the
preparations for the session are to be undertaken by the Commission on
Sustainable Development at its fifth session, the proposed time-frame
for the special session is the third or fourth week in June 1997,
i.e., 16 to 20 June or 23 to 27 June, with the understanding that the
fifth session of the Commission on Sustainable Development will be
held either early in 1997 or back to back with the special session, so
that the Commission can act as a preparatory committee for the special
session.

31.  Whatever the specific arrangements for the Assembly's review, it
is essential to ensure that its outcome contributes to maintaining the
political momentum and visibility of the sustainable development
agenda as well as to the broader discussion currently under way of the
reform of the United Nations in the economic, social and related
fields and to discussions on the agenda for development and the
coordinated follow-up of other major United Nations conferences.


                         VI.  LEVEL OF REPRESENTATION

32.  UNCED brought together an unprecedented number of heads of State
and Government, delegates, representatives of non-governmental
organizations, and the mass media, a sign of the tremendous importance
given to the issues discussed at the Conference.

33.  The General Assembly may envisage a level of representation at the
special session that will maintain the high political momentum reached
during UNCED, which was attended by 118 heads of State and Government.


                      VII.  PARTICIPATION OF MAJOR GROUPS

34.  Chapter 23 of Agenda 21 on strengthening the role of major groups
defines very clearly the critical role of genuine involvement of all
social groups in the effective implementation of the objectives,
policies and mechanisms that were agreed by Governments in all
programme areas of Agenda 21.  UNCED itself brought together an
unprecedented number of participants representing major groups,
especially non-governmental organizations, which have also been
involved in follow-up at both the national and international levels.
The continuing concern remains the broadening of the spectrum of the
representation of major groups, as well as transparency in the
procedures of their selection for the various coordination and
consultation mechanisms, in this case in relation to the preparations
for and proceedings of the special session.  Funding the participation
of representatives of major groups in such processes remains by far
the most acute problem.

35.  It has also been widely recognized that, in preparing for UNCED
and subsequently monitoring progress in the implementation of its
commitments through the Commission on Sustainable Development, the
international community has largely benefited from the intellectual
input of major groups and from an interactive dialogue with them.
However, the rules of procedure of the General Assembly do not allow
the active participation of representatives of major groups in its
deliberations.  The General Assembly may wish to consider some options
for the involvement of major groups during its special session.  For
example, the Assembly may wish to suspend its deliberations for the
duration of one or two meetings in order to enter into an informal
dialogue with the representatives of major groups, or to legislate
that for the special session under consideration the rules for
participation be amended to allow for participation along the lines of
participation at UNCED.

36.  A number of parallel events enabling the broadening of the scope
of the dialogue by involving the representatives of the major groups
could be considered.  In addition, before or during the deliberations
of the session, the organization of various forums of major groups
could be also encouraged.  The Assembly may wish to encourage major
groups to participate in preparations for the session and review the
implementation of Agenda 21 in the areas of their particular concern,
assessing their role in that implementation.

37.  It is therefore suggested that the special session integrate in
its core debate, as well as accompanying proceedings, the widest
possible representation of major groups and sectors of civil society.
The Assembly may consider encouraging Governments to include the
representatives of major groups in their national preparatory
processes, as well as in their delegations to the session.


                          VIII.  PREPARATORY PROCESS

38.  At the special session, the General Assembly must accomplish a
considerable amount of work:  it must review Agenda 21 and the
realization of commitments included therein and define the future role
of the Commission on Sustainable Development, providing guidance to
its future programme of work.  It is also expected that the Assembly
will give new and reinforced political impetus to further work on
achieving sustainable development at all levels.  This task will
require careful and time-consuming preparation, which should begin at
the current session of the Assembly.  The Assembly may wish to give
more specific policy guidance on the work to be accomplished before
the special session.  Since Agenda 21 underlines that preparations for
the special session should be conducted at a high level, the
Commission on Sustainable Development, above all its ministerial
segment, should also be involved in determining the methods of
reviewing commitments and identifying priorities for the future.

39.  The Commission on Sustainable Development, when adopting its
multi-year thematic programme of work, decided to undertake at its
fifth session in 1997 an overall review of the progress achieved with
a view to preparing for the special session.  The General Assembly may
wish to clearly determine the role to be played by the Commission at
its fifth session as well as the tasks to be accomplished at the
special session itself.  For example, on the basis of analyses made
during its previous sessions, the Commission could undertake an
in-depth evaluation of progress achieved and could identify major
concerns and gaps in implementing sustainable development goals.  On
the other hand, at the special session, the Assembly could look more
specifically at the priorities for the future and institutional
follow-up.  In order to reach agreement on the final document, the
Assembly may wish to establish an ad hoc committee of the whole.

40.  The Assembly may also wish to consider proposing the organization
of meetings under the auspices of the regional commissions to assess
progress made at the regional level, according to the provisions of
Agenda 21.  If the input from such meetings are to be integrated into
the overall review, they will have to be organized as early as
possible in 1996.


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