International Perspectives: UNCED, Agenda 21, MDGs, WSSD Dr Mahfuzul Haque Former Secretary, GOB

International Events 1972: United Nations Conference on Human Development (UNCHD), Stockholm, Sweden. The Conference brought leaders of the industrialized and developing nations to chart an Action Plan on Human Development 1989: World Commission on Environment and Development (WCED) or the “Brundtland Commission” in it’s report Our Common Future defined “Sustainable Development”

Sustainable Development Sustainable Development is the development that meets the needs of the present without compromising with the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. (ref: Our Common Future, WCED, 1987). visit: www.un.org/esa/sustdev

UNCED, 1992 www.un.org/esa/sustdev/documents/UNCED 1992: United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED), Rio-de-Janeiro, Brazil, also known as the “Earth Summit” or “Rio-Summit” assembled the world leaders to address global environmental issues of concern.

UNCED, 1992 Following five Conventions were signed: United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) Earth Charter Forestry Principles Agenda 21

UNFCCC, 1992 www.unfccc.int Objectives are to : achieve stabilization of GHG concentrations in the atmosphere at a level that would prevent anthropogenic (man made) interference with the climate system achieve such a level within a timeframe (1990) to allow ecosystems to adapt naturally to climate change ensure that food production is not threatened enable economic development to proceed in a sustainable manner

CBD www.biodiv.org Objectives of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) are to: conserve bio-diversity ensure its sustainable use ensure fair and equitable sharing of benefits arising from the use of genetic resources

Biological Diversity Biological diversity means variability among living organisms-terrestrial, marine and aquatic systems including diversity within and between species and ecosystems

Earth Charter Forestry Principles Earth Charter expresses the wish of the world leaders to conserve this only habitable planet, the Earth Forestry Principles are some guidelines to save the forests For details visit: www.un.org/documents

Agenda 21 (www.un.org/esa/sustdev/documents/agenda21) Agenda 21 is the Agenda for the 21st century covering all sectors of development spread over 40 chapters All signatory nations are expected to develop their National Agenda 21 Bangladesh has partially addressed Agenda 21 in National Environment Management Action Plan (NEMAP), 1995

Agenda 21 (www.un.org/esa/sustdev/documents/agenda21) Out of 40, some important chapters are as follows: Combating Poverty Changing Consumption Patterns Population and Sustainability Protecting Atmosphere Combating Deforestation Sustainable Agriculture Development Safer use of Toxic Chemicals Women in Sustainable Development Children and Youth in Sustainable Dev Partnership with NGOs

Achieve universal primary education UN Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) 2000 (www.un.org/millenniumgoals/) By 2015, all 189 UN member states have pledged to: Eradicate extreme poverty and hunger reduce half the proportion of people living on less than a dollar a day. Reduce by half the proportion of people who suffer from hunger Achieve universal primary education Promote gender equality and empower women eliminate gender disparity in primary and secondary level by 2005 and at all levels by 2015 Reduce child mortality by two thirds the mortality among under five children

UN Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) 2000 Improve maternal health reduce by three quarters maternal mortality ratio Combat HIV/AIDS, malaria and other diseases halt and reverse spread of diseases including malaria Ensure environment sustainability reduce half proportion of people accessing safe drinking water Develop a global partnership for development address special needs of LDCs, SIDS, and landlocked countries

WSSD www.johannesburgsummit.org World Summit on Sustainable Development (WSSD) was held in Johannesburg, South Africa in 2002 Summit took stock of developments since the Earth Summit, 1992 held 20 years ago and implementation status of Agenda 21 Summit outcome was “Johannesburg Plan of Implementation”

WSSD www.johannesburgsummit.org Johannesburg Plan of Implementation: Poverty Eradication Changing unsustainable pattern of consumption and production Protecting and managing the natural resource base of economic and social development Sustainable Development in a Globalizing world Health and Sustainable Development Sustainable Development of Small Island Developing States Sustainable Development for Africa

WSSD www.johannesburgsummit.org Other Regional Initiatives Sustainable Development in Latin America and the Caribbean Sustainable Development in Asia and Pacific Sustainable Development in West Asia Region Sustainable Development in Economic Commission for Europe Region Means of Implementation Institutional Framework for Sustainable Development Role of UNGA, ECOSOC, International Organisations

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