Implementation and Monitoring Session: Realistic Expectations, Misunderstandings and Potential Disappointments

Purpose of the session To clarify and align realistic expectations for our experiences at CSD. To mentally prepare for setting unified goals by the end of tomorrow

Purpose of CSD: Informal Products of CSD allow citizens to keep their governments accountable to commitments to sustainable development.

Purpose of CSD: Formal “The Commission is responsible for reviewing progress in the implementation of Agenda 21 and the Rio Declaration on Environment and Development; as well as providing policy guidance to follow up the Johannesburg Plan of Implementation (JPOI) at the local, national, regional and international levels. The JPOI reaffirmed that the CSD is the high-level forum for sustainable development within the United Nations system.”

Purpose of CSD: Formal The General Assembly established CSD to: “ensure effective follow-up to the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development Conference, as well as to enhance international cooperation and rationalize the intergovernmental decision-making capacity for the integration of environment and development issues and to examine the progress of the implementation of Agenda 21 at the national, regional and international levels, fully guided by the principles of the Rio Declaration on Environment and Development 3/ and all other aspects of the Conference, in order to achieve sustainable development in all countries;” Functions: Monitor and review progress of implementing policy Evaluation and analysis of reports and best management practices (environmental conventions) regarding environment, development and finance Enhance dialogue between international sectors To provide and review recommendations to the General Assembly through the Economic and Social Council.

The Vocab of CSD Group exercise (10 minutes): Define vocabulary

Your expectations Activity (3 minutes) Please take a few minutes to answer the following questions: 1. What are three expectations you have for the results of your participation at CSD? 2. Why did you decide to attend the CSD? 3. What is the most important issue to your community? Group Discussion (10 minutes)

Regional Impact of International Policy Case studies: How can international policy affect regional problems? Example: ENSIGN Project Finances Micro-Enterprises (8 countries in Asia) UNDP financed loans mainly to women to provide grid access to urban poor, and renewable energy to rural poor Impact: increased income, self confidence, time savings, control over finances Group Discussion (10 minutes) What local change has your community experienced that resulted from international policies like Agenda 21 of the Millenium Development Goals? How have these policies been enforced in your region? How can citizens keep governments accountable?

CSD Veteran Experiences For those that have attended past CSD’s or the recent IPM … Please share your thoughts on 1) what you found successful and effective at CSD, and 2) what was frustrating or ineffective. Please share one experience that you hadn’t expected.

Establish Parameters Exercise (10 minutes): Possible Vs. Not Possible Goal = to focus efforts on the possible

Conclusion Next step: How can we translate different expectations and agendas into a recommendation for international policy? Please keep these expectations and realities in mind over the next day to prepare for tomorrow’s final session where we will create unified goals and recommendations.