Statement on UNEPs preparations for the WSSD

7th Special Session of UNEP Governing Council/

Global Ministerial Environment Forum

Cartagena, 13-15 February

Statement on UNEPs preparations for the WSSD

by the Norwegian Minister of the Environment, Mr. Børge Brende

Mr. President,

I appreciate the substantial work and the wide spectre of activities carried out by UNEP in preparing for the WSSD including its role in the regional processes and GEO 3. This work truly reflects the variety of issues that will be discussed in Johannesburg.

Mr. President,

Our ambitions for Johannesburg should be high, reflecting real political commitment to sustainable development. But we need to have a close look at what has happened since Rio, both successes and shortcomings. To start on a positive note, the ozone layer has probably been saved for future generations! We have also come a long way in developing frameworks to implement the Rio agreements on climate change, biodiversity and desertification. New treaties and action plans have also been developed in fields such as persistent organic pollutants, pollution of the oceans biosafety and agricultural biodiversity. The capacity on environmental issues has been significantly increased. Many civil society organisations are fighting environmental degradation and pointing the way forward to sustainable development. In this regard I commend UNEPs efforts in bringing civil society on board and involving them actively in its work. These efforts must continue.

However, this is only half the picture. Despite economic growth in many parts of the world, a large number of people and whole regions have been sidelined and marginalised, and many commitments from Rio are not met. Hunger and preventable disease is widespread. Efforts to combat climate change or reverse biodiversity loss do not even remotely match the scale of the problems. Forests are being lost and degraded at an alarming rate.

As Environment Ministers we have to address in Johannesburg the need for integration of environment and sustainable development perspectives into all sectors of society, first and foremost at home, but also internationally. I encourage UNEP to continue its work in supporting national governments in mainstreaming environmental concerns into other sectors such as health, education, trade and industry.

Mr. President,

Reduction of poverty is a pre-condition for sustainable development. Norway fully supports the emphasis on poverty eradication at the Johannesburg Summit. Taking poverty seriously also implies looking at some hard facts: the poor are the main losers when the environment is degraded and the ones who suffer the most from climate change, soil erosion, water pollution and biodiversity loss.

A common goal must be to fully implement international agreements and instruments relevant to sustainable development, including compliance regimes and mechanisms for dispute settlements, and agreed goals from relevant Summits and the Millennium Declaration.

The various root causes of poverty must be addressed. Protection and management of environmental resources and the strengthening of environmental governance are important aspects of sustainable development. But we must also include areas such as democratisation, cultural identity, economic growth, distribution, health, education and gender equality, in order to combat poverty. Norway places particular emphasis on two areas, namely poverty, health and environment in a sustainable context, and the management of freshwater resources. Negative economic growth and poverty is closely linked to ill health and environmental degradation. The vicious circle between ill health and poverty and environment should be broken. Unclean water and poor sanitation kill over 12 million people each year. Air pollution kills nearly 3 million more, about 90 per cent of them in the developing world.

In this respect we believe that the global chemical agenda should be moved forward and air pollution addressed more systematically. Even if the international community has achieved important progress in limiting use and releases of certain persistent organic chemicals, the total use of chemical substances and products is growing at an alarming rate and heavy metals are posing a significant burden on human health and the environment. I propose that we set an ambitious goal for Johannesburg - phasing out lead in petrol and aiming at a protocol on heavy metals under the POP convention. UNEP has so far done a remarkable job in support of international chemicals management, and the development of a strategic approach is a necessary element for future work in this area.

Furthermore, sustainable management of ecosystems and biodiversity are crucial both in the short and long term. Well-functioning ecosystems are essential for future generations to meet their needs.

Cultural identity should be given more prominence. We believe that it is important to manage cultural diversity including traditional knowledge and skills for the benefit of present and future generations. I am very pleased to see that UNEP is also involved in this area.

Norway also welcomes the focus UNEP is giving to Africa, particularly the support to the African Ministerial Conference on the Environment and to capacity building in environmental assessment, policy development and law. UNEPs work on addressing the linkages between environment and poverty is of key importance.

Increased resource flows to sustainable development are called for along with better and more effective use of available financial resources. My Government has set an ambitious goal of 1% of GNP to development cooperation.

Finally, Mr. President,

International governance for sustainable development, including a strong environmental pillar must be strengthened and the leading role of UN acknowledged. In this respect it is crucial to invigorate UNEP. I am confident that we will reach an agreement that will bring us forward in the IEG process.

Thank you.