Archived press release

High on hot air, low on commitment - first analysis of draft plan for earth summit

14 June 2002

An examination of the "Draft Plan of Implementation for the World Summit on Sustainable Development" published this week, reveals few agreed timetabled targets, no financial commitments, and no enforcement mechanisms [1]. This is despite the warnings sounded by a recent UN Environment Programme report, which said that the planet faced disaster by 2030 without drastic action [2].
The document, which has been drawn up following the meeting of government leaders in Bali, Indonesia, last week, shows there is no agreement over:

• Whether globalisation is good or bad for sustainable development
• Whether rich countries have caused most of the problems and have a greater responsibility to tackle them (the principle that countries have "common but differentiated responsibilities")
• Whether the Kyoto Protocol should be mentioned or whether further reductions in greenhouse gases should be achieved
• Whether the debt burden on developing countries is unsustainable and whether the 0.7% of GDP aid target should be reaffirmed
• What to say about trade, especially on agriculture
• Whether the "precautionary principle" should be used in decision making
• How to control multi-national corporate abuse.

The Earth Summit begins on 26th August in Johannesburg, South Africa, and according to a recent survey is likely to be attended by more than 85 world leaders. UK Prime Minister Tony Blair has committed to attending. US President George W Bush has not.

Mike Childs, speaking for Friends of the Earth, said:
"This draft plan is weak in the extreme. Without firm targets, finance and enforcement mechanisms, it threatens to be no more than hot air. The recent UN report said that we desperately need vision and action if we are to avoid environmental and social disaster. So far this is sadly lacking. It was clear from the recent negotiations in Bali that the US were leading opposition to any real agreement. Under George W Bush the US is fast becoming a pariah state. Tony Blair must activate the 'special relationship' he has with Bush if the Earth Summit is to have any hope of success."

Notes:

[1]See www.johannesburgsummit.org/html/documents/prepcom4.html
[2]"The State of the Environment: Past, Present, Future?" UNEP 2002. See www.unep.org

Friends of the Earth's Analysis of Targets from the Draft Implementation Plan

Agreed Targets:

• Halve the proportion of the world's people whose income is less than one dollar a day and halve the prop of people without access to clean water by 2015.
• By 2020 achieve a significant improvement in the lives of at least 100 million slum dwellers.
• Develop integrated water resource management and water efficiency plans by 2005.
• Reduce mortality rates for infants and children under five by two thirds and maternal mortality rates by three quarters by 2015.
• Reduce HIV prevalence in men and women aged 15-24 by 25% by 2010.
• Universal primary education by 2015.

Disputed timetable targets:

• Halve the proportion of people lacking access to sanitation by 2015
• Launch an action plan to improve access to affordable energy services and halve the proportion of people living in poverty
• Develop a 10-year programme to accelerate the shift towards sustainable production and consumption
• Diversify energy supply with targets and timetables for increasing renewable supplies
• Phase out energy subsidies that inhibit sustainable development
• By 2020, ensure that chemicals are used and produced in ways that do not lead to significant adverse effects on human health and the environment
• Halt and reverse loss of natural resources by 2015
• Maintain or restore fishery stocks by 2015
• Stop alarming biodiversity loss by 2010

No Targets:

• Introduction of effective mechanisms to ensure compliance of targets
• Spending to achieve targets
• Funding assistance for developing countries
• Greenhouse gas reduction
• Introduction of corporate accountability mechanisms
• Soil and land use
• Access to nutritional food

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Published by Friends of the Earth Trust