Sustainability

PrepCom4 Report

27 May - 7 June 2002
Bali, Indonesia
Local Government, Agenda 21 and the World Summit on Sustainable Development.

Introduction

Agenda 21 is under review. Ten years after Agenda 21 was adopted at the Rio Earth Summit in1992, the UN will hold the World Summit on Sustainable Development (WSSD) to measure progress on Agenda 21 and to encourage new commitments and actions to achieve sustainable development.

WSSD will be held in Johannesburg, South Africa, from 26 August to 4 September 2002 (more information about the Summit and the preparatory process is at). Four global preparatory meetings for the Summit during (known as PrepComs) were held in 2001-2002. PrepCom4 was the most recent and was conducted in Bali, Indonesia, 24 May - 7 June 2002.

PrepCom4 focused on 2 major outcomes - a Draft Plan of Implementation for WSSD and a Political Declaration. These documents will be finalised at Johannesburg later this year.

The Australian Local Government Association (ALGA) attended PrepCom4 as a member of the Australian Government Delegation and was actively involved in all aspects of the delegation work. As a member of the Australian Delegation, ALGA's role was to:

  • Provide input to the Australian position
  • Undertake duties as required within the Australian delegation1
  • Liaise with Local Government representatives in other national delegations
  • be a constituency voice for Local Government within the national delegation

1. As part of the delegation, members are bound by the Australian position.

ALGA will also be part of the Australian Government Delegation to WSSD.

This paper has been prepared to report on the activities and outcomes of PrepCom4 and establish a mechanism for Local Government Associations and Local Government to provide formal input into the WSSD process.

PrepCom4 - Preparing for WSSD

WSSD is expected to produce three outcomes. These are:

  • a political declaration by leaders
  • a negotiated program of agreed multilateral actions by governments with targets and timetables (Type 1 outcome - Draft Plan of Implementation for the World Summit on Sustainable Development2)
  • voluntary projects involving different combinations of government, the private sector and community based groups (Type 2 outcomes - Partnerships3)

2. Draft Plan of Implementation (PDF)

3. Details of Type 2 outcomes (DOC)

PrepCom4 concentrated on the development of Type 1 outcomes and preliminary discussions were held on Type 2's and the Political Declaration.

Priorities and actions contained in the Draft Plan of Implementation for WSSD are:

  1. Poverty eradication
  2. Changing unsustainable patterns of consumption and production
  3. Protecting and managing the natural resource base of economic and social development
  4. Sustainable development in a globalizing world
  5. Health and sustainable development
  6. Sustainable development of Small Island Developing States (SIDS)
  7. Sustainable development initiatives for Africa
  8. Means of implementation
  9. Strengthening governance for sustainable development at the national, regional and international levels
Logistics of PrepCom4

Participants of PrepCom4 included:

  • National delegations4
  • Major groups5
  • Others - representatives from a range of accredited organisations that are not major groups

4. Composition of National Delegations varies from country to country. The Commonwealth Minister for the Environment led the Australian delegation. Australia was one of only a few countries that had formal representation of Local Government through ALGA on their delegation.

5. There are 9 major groups that are recognised by CSD these are: Local Authorities, Farmers, Women, Youth, Business and Industry, Trade Unions, Indigenous Peoples, NGOs and Science and Technology Community.

Activities at PrepCom4
  • High Level Ministerial segments
  • Negotiation of the text - the Draft Plan of Implementation for WSSD and the Political Declaration
  • Major Groups dialogue
  • Side events - workshops and seminars
  • Ad hoc networking
Negotiations at PrepCom4

PrepCom4 was conducted at a series of levels. At the highest level, member nations of CSD conducted the formal business of PreCom46. At a political level, heads of delegation and Ministers attended Ministerial segments, provided input for the development of the Political Declaration, and provided political oversight of the text negotiations.

6. The official business of PrepCom4 was the negotiation of the Political Declaration and the Draft Plan of Implementation for WSSD.

The majority of the National Delegations focussed on negotiating the text of the Draft Plan of Implementation for WSSD. This was an intensive process that fully occupied all members of national delegations almost all of the time.

Parallel to this process, there was a formal process for multi-stakeholder involvement through the Major Groups Dialogue. In this Dialogue, representative organisations for each of the Major Groups made presentations to the Chairman of CSD and representatives of national delegations, on aspects of both the Draft Plan of Implementation for WSSD and the Political Declaration. ICLEI represents Local Authorities in the Major Groups process and presented the Local Government Dialogue paper.

At another level, a number of side-events were conducted both on-site and off- site at the convention centre. Side events were conducted by a range of organisations and were generally information exchange forums and useful for professional development purposes. And finally, as with any conference there were a wide range of meetings in corridors and ad hoc networking opportunities.

Observations

Over 6000 people attended PrepCom4. The process was complex and at times chaotic. Generally, all sessions at PrepCom4 were open to all delegates unless otherwise designated as 'closed'. Closed sessions included: delegation meetings, caucuses of negotiating groups of nations and high level Minister's negotiating sessions.

Ministers generally joined the national delegation only for the formal sessions. During the relatively short period of time that Ministers were available at PrepCom4 they were extensively involved in multi-lateral high level negotiations or bilateral discussions. Access to Ministers was therefore extremely limited for non-national delegates.

The negotiation of text fully occupied almost all members of national delegations. This did not facilitate significant interchange of ideas between national governments, major stakeholders and other stakeholders. Very few national delegates attended side events. This structural impediment highlights the need for Local Government to be represented in the formal/officially-sanctioned bodies such as the National Delegation and through the recognised 'Major Groups' process through ICLEI.

How does this translate to WSSD?

Whilst it is difficult to anticipate the dynamics, logistics and process at WSSD it is clear that it will be an extremely large event. It is expected that 60,000 participants will attend WSSD.

It can be anticipated that because the outcomes of PrepCom4 the Draft Plan of Implementation for WSSD is approximately about 75% agreed, and the Chairman is to yet to draft the Political Declaration, it is expected that the negotiations of text will continue at Johannesburg. At the same time high level Ministerial processes and negotiations will intensify.

WSSD Outcomes and Local Government

The Draft Plan of Implementation text contains a number of 'hooks' for Local Government to increase it's role in Agenda 21 and outcomes of WSSD. There are a number of references to the local dimension for the implementation of Agenda 21. Specifically, draft text related to Local Agenda 21 in Article 149 was agreed.

[Agreed]
Enhance the role and capacity of local authorities as well as stakeholders in implementing Agenda 21 and the outcomes of WSSD and in strengthening the continued support for Local Agenda 21 programs and associated initiatives and partnerships, and encourage, in particular, partnerships among and between local authorities and other levels of government and stakeholders to advance sustainable development as called for in, inter alia, the Habitat agenda.

This article is encouraging for Local Government at the domestic and international level. Opportunities exist for Local Government based on three key elements:

  • a continued recognition of the role of Local Government in Agenda 21 in particular Local Agenda 21 and in implementing the outcomes of WSSD
  • a call to enhance the capacity of Local Government in Local Agenda 21 programs and associated initiatives and partnerships
  • encouragement of partnerships among and among and between local authorities.
  • The article is entirely consistent with statements contained in the Sustaining Our Communities Declaration - signed in Adelaide in March 2002 by the City of Adelaide, Local Government Association of South Australia, ALGA and ICLEI7

The Declaration is available online.

Type 2 Outcome opportunities

It is apparent that Type 2 agreements are where Local Government can potentially set the agenda for accelerating the adoption of, and removing of barriers to, Local Agenda 21 in Australia.

Type 2's are a series of commitments and action-oriented coalitions focused on delivering better sustainable development outcomes. This translates into partnerships to deliver on the commitments made at WSSD.

From the Local Government perspective, ICLEI has identified 4 outcomes that WSSD must recognise in relation to Local Government globally:

  • the importance of good local governance in creating sustainable communities;
  • the urban dimension of sustainable development and the interdependence or urban and rural areas
  • the role of Local Governments in developing partnerships for sustainable development, working with national governments, international agencies and civil society
  • opportunities to promote and encourage diversified action at the local level

How can your Association or Council be involved?

If your Association or Council wishes to influence the outcomes of WSSD, there are 3 outputs of WSSD that will drive the future sustainable development agenda. These are:

  • the political declaration by Heads of State/Government
  • Type 1 outcomes - Plan of Implementation for WSSD
  • Type 2 outcomes - Voluntary Partnerships

The Sustaining Our Communities Declaration is an integral guiding document in ALGA's preparations for WSSD.

There are 2 formal mechanisms that provide your council with the opportunity to contribute to the outcomes of WSSD. These are through ALGA as a member of the Australian Government Delegation and through ICLEI as the representative of 'Local Authorities' through the Major Groups process.

ALGA is seeking your ideas and comments to assist your representatives to contribute to the Australian Government Delegations negotiations. If you have comments on the Sustaining Our Communities Declaration, the Draft Plan of Implementation for WSSD, the Political Declaration and/or proposals for Type 2 Partnerships please make your submissions to ALGA at wssd@alga.com.au.

These comments/proposals will need to be received no later than 5 August 2002. Councils interested in understanding or involvement in the ICLEI led Multistakeholder process should contact ICLEI.

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The PrepCom4 report (DOC 41 kb) can also be downloaded MS Word format.

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Page last updated: 17 June 2007