Rio+20 Outcomes Implementation and UNEP Interstate Sustainable Development Commission for Central Asia International Fund for Saving the Aral Sea 16 November 2012 By Dr. Young-Woo Park Representative and Regional Director for Asia and the Pacific

Major Rio+20 Outcomes Outcome Document: The Future We Want: A focused political outcome document, which contains a number of clear and practical measures for implementing sustainable development. Green Economy: recognized green economy in the context of sustainable development and poverty eradication as one of the important tools available for achieving SD, and will enhance our ability to manage natural resources sustainably and with lower negative environmental impacts, increase resource efficiency and reduce waste Strengthening Institutional Framework for Sustainable Development (IFSD): - Decided to establish a universal inter-governmental high level political forum, on SD to replace the Commission on Sustainable Development; - Agreed to strengthen and upgrades UNEP Sustainable Development Goals: Decided to launch a process to develop a set of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which will build upon the Millennium Development Goals and converge with the post 2015 development agenda.

Major Rio+20 Outcomes Progress Measurement: Progress Measurement: Governments also requested the UN Statistical Commission, in consultation with relevant UN system entities, to launch a programme of work in the area of measures of progress to complement GDP in order to better inform policy decisions. 10 Year Frameowrk on SCP: adopted the 10-year framework of programmes on sustainable consumption and production patterns, and to designate a Member State body to take necessary steps to fully operationalize the framework Addressing thematic areas: Also tood forward-looking decisions on a number of thematic areas, including energy, food security,, climate change, oceans, cities, water SCO, special needs of small island and landlocked states, and many other cross-cutting issues Financing SD : decided to establish an intergovernmental process under the General Assembly to prepare options on a strategy for sustainable development financing

The 66th session of General Assembly (GA) adopted, by consensus, resolution 66/288 endorsing the Rio+20 outcome document - “The Future We Want” - on 27 July The 67th session of General Assembly (begins on 18 September) is considering and will adopt resolutions to facilitate the implementation of “The Future We Want”. Follow-up Implementation – General

GA-67 is now considering a resolution or resolutions on both the “High Level Forum on SD” and on the “environmental pillar in the context of sustainable development “, including the “strengthening and upgrading” of UNEP HLF Issues: the format/organizations aspects, the functions, effective monitoring/review process, the relationship with ECOSOC and other UN agencies (will talk about UNEP in next few slides) Implementation - IFSD

UN System (ILO, other UN agencies, UNDP and regional commissions) to support “governments to improve knowledge and statistical capacity on job trends, developments and constraints and integrate relevant data into national statistics UN System (UN Development Group, Environmental Management Groups, UNEP, other UN agencies including ILO, UN regional Commissions, UNICEP, FAO, WTO, UNOPS), in cooperation with relevant donors and international organizations, to coordinate and provide information on: Matching interested countries with partners; Toolboxes/best practices in applying policies on GE Models/good examples of policies of GE Methodologies for evaluation of policies of GE Existing and emerging platforms that contribute to GE UN System (UNDG, DESA, other UN agencies including UNDP, UNICEF, EMG, ENEP, FAO, UN Regional Commissions, UNCDF, UNOPS, Regional Development Banks) “to support developing countries upon request to achieve SD through including green economy policies in the context of SD and poverty eradication” Implementation – Green Economy

A 30-member inter-governmental open working group is being set up under the UNGA with representatives from Member States in the 5 UN regional groups to develop SDG. The working Group will submit a report to the 68 th session of the GA, containing a proposal for SDGs for consideration and appropriate action Implementation – SD Goals

Secretary-General (SG) has also established a 27-member High-Level Panel of Eminent Persons on the Post 2015 Development Agenda. The Panel had its first meeting at the end of September, and will submit a report to the SG in the first half of SG also launched the Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN), which is an independent global network of research centres, universities and technical institutions to help find solutions for some of the world’s pressing environmental social and economic problems. Implementation – SD Goals

Means of implementation: Finance –the GA67 will also establish an intergovernmental process to assess financing needs, by setting up an intergovernmental committee (comprising 30 experts nominated by regional groups) to prepare a report proposing options for an effective SD Financing Strategy Technology – Relevant UN agencies to to make recommendations at the GA-67 to identify options for a facilitation mechanism that promotes the development, transfer and dissemination of clean and environmental sound technologies Capacity building – UN and other international organizations to support developing countries, in particular, least developed countries, in capacity building for developing resource efficient and inclusive economies Implementation - Others

Para. 88 – Strengthening & upgrading UNEP in the following manners: a)Universal membership in the Governing Council; b)Secure, stable, adequate and increased financial resources from UN regular budget and voluntary contribution; c)Enhance the voice of UNEP and its ability to fulfill its coordination mandate within the UN system by strengthening UNEP engagement in key UN coordination bodies and empowering UNEP to lead efforts to formulate UN system-wide strategies on the env. d) Promote a strong science-policy interface; e)Disseminate and share evidence-based environmental information and raise public awareness on critical and emerging env. issues; f)Provide capacity –building to countries, support and facilitate access to technology; g)Progressively consolidate headquarters functions in Nairobi, strengthen its regional presence in order to assist countries; h)Ensure the active participation of all relevant stakeholders drawing on best practices and models … and exploring new mechanisms to promote transparency and effective engagement of civil society. - Enhancing coordination and cooperation among MEAs - Bring together environmental information and assessments and building national and regional capacity to support informed decision-making Outcome Document on UNEP

GA-67 is considering a resolution on “strengthening and upgrading” of UNEP Key Issues to be discussed include: New arrangements of the GC with universal membership The increased financial resources from UN regular budget How to strengthen/empower UNEP to fulfill its coordination mandate within the UN system and to lead efforts to formulate UN-wide strategies on the environment UNEP to have the first GC with universal membership in Feb Implementation – UNEP Reform

UNEP’s Role in Post Rio+20 Lead the environmental dimension of SD as the leading global authority in setting the global env. agenda, leading the envi. dimension of SD in the UN system (Delivering as One), and facilitating integration, coordination and coherence of SD Involve in major follow-up activities specified in Rio+20 Outcome Document and lead the environmental dimension of these activities, including green economy, HLPF, SCP, oceans/sea, SIDS, LDC, climate change, biodiversity, SCP, SDG, finance, technology, capacity building and others - Promote a strong science-polity interface, building on existing international instruments, assessments, panels and information networks, including through the global sustainable development report - Enhancing MEAs synergies and coherence - Provide capacity-building to regions and countries, and support and facilitate access to technology - Actively engage other stakeholders

UNEP in Asia Pacific Support regional and sub-regional organizations in translating SD policies into national action, develop/implement regional agreements/arrangements Working with other UN regional bodies (ESCAP, UNDP and other agencies), Lead the environmental dimension of SD in the UN regional collaboration mechanism and Deliver as One (DoA) Programme, and coordinate the environmental dimension of SD among all UN agencies Support Member States in the region through science and policy interface, strengthening rule of law for SD, implementation of MEAs, capacity building, and exchange of information, best practices and lessons learned Actively engage other regional and sub-regional, national, sub- national and local stakeholders in SD

UNEP is working with other UN agencies through UN Country Teams on mainstreaming environment and climate change in the national consultation process on the post-2015 development agenda UNEP are working with governments to prioritize the Rio +20 outcome areas related to environment and climate change at the country level. For example, UNEP is working with Indonesia to develop the National Environmental Summary of Rio+20 Outcomes comprised of summaries of the status of Rio +20 outcome areas related to environment and climate change in Indonesia UNEP at Country Level

Thank you!