CSD-12 Chair Brende urges Governments to embark on a decade of implementation
Historical archive
Published under: Bondevik's 2nd Government
Publisher: Ministry of the Environment
Press release | Date: 28/04/2004 | Last updated: 24/10/2006
Highlighting the need to speed up efforts in delivering safe drinking water, basic sanitation and shelter for the poor, Norwegian Minister of the Environment, Børge Brende, Chair of CSD-12, calls for a decade of implementation. UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan, encourages the Commission to keep a close eye on progress (28.04.04) Secretary General Kofi Annan's speech (28.04.04)Børge Brende's speech (28.04.04)Hilde Frafjord Johnson's speech (28.04.04)
Press release
Date: 28.04.04
CSD-12 Chair Brende urges Governments to embark on a decade of implementation
Highlighting the need to speed up efforts in delivering
safe drinking water, basic sanitation and shelter for the poor,
Norwegian Minister of the Environment, Børge Brende, Chair of
CSD-12, calls for a decade of implementation.
The “Chairman’s summary”- have now presented a clear message: The international community is not on track and efforts must be scaled up. Achieving the targets is doable. The time-bound targets are specific, practical and realistic. They are technically feasible and financially affordable.
“For too many years we had too little action. Now we must make a difference. Let us all embark on a decade of implementation, Chairman Brende says.
The Commission is gathered to review progress on targets set by world leaders at the 2002 World Summit on Sustainable Development in Johannesburg. If the agreed goals are to be met, 1.6 billion people must be provided with safe drinking water and 2 billion people will have to get access to basic sanitation by 2015. By 2020, the living conditions of 100 million slum dwellers are to be substantially improved.
In
his opening address, UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan, encouraged
the Commission to keep a close eye on progress: “This Commission
must be a watchdog, alert to threats and fearless in sounding
alarms. We look to you for coherent, effective policy-making”, the
Secretary-General stated.
More than 80 Ministers, Heads of UN Agencies and representatives of civil society participates at the High Level Segment of the 12 th> Session of the UN Commission on Sustainable Development (CSD-12).
“The impressive and broad-based attendance is a clear indication of heightened interest and expectations related to the work of the Commission. I believe the Commission has changed. CSD is now more inter-active and action-oriented”, Chairman Brende states.
- More information: Norway Chairs CSD
Photos: Kristin Nyborg (copyright The Ministry of the Envrionment, Norway)