1. 1 Follow-up of the Implementation of the Outcomes of the World Summit on Sustainable Development (WSSD) ECA Conference of Ministers 2007

2. 2 Context WSSD mandate for Regional Commissions (RCs) to facilitate and promote a balanced integration of the economic, social and environmental dimensions of sustainable development into their work, and the work of regional, sub-regional and other bodies JPOI considers poverty eradication as the greatest global challenge for sustainable development, and the need for an adequate articulation of the inter-linkages between all the MDGs GA Resolution 58/218 of 23 December 2003, requiring RCs to take action to ensure the effective implementation of and follow-up to the outcomes of WSSD (JPOI); and contribute to the work of the UNCSD CSD-11 Decision, calling for RCs to organize Regional Implementation Meetings (RIM) to review implementation of WSSD in line with CSD Multi- year (2002-2017) Program of Work, based on thematic issue clusters Africa RIM organized under the auspices of the Africa Committee on Sustainable Development (ACSD) CSD 14-15 cycle focus on: Energy for sustainable development; Industrial development; Air/atmosphere pollution; and Climate Change

3. 3 Africa RIM for CSD-14 CSD 14-15 RIM was organized in October 2005 attended by representatives 33 member States, RECs, UN organizations, Civil Society Organizations, and Academics Review revealed some progress in implementation but also highlighted the inability of many African countries to meet their goals and targets The RIM expressed concern about: –Slow implementation of Agenda 21 and the JPOI because of lack of fulfilment by the international community of commitments made in Rio, Monterey and Johannesburg –Limited modern energy production and consumption and the extreme vulnerability to climate change, which critically impairs socio- economic development in Africa; –Inadequate contribution of the industrial sector, in particular mining, minerals and metals, to environmental sustainability.

4. 4 Africa RIM Statement to CSD-14 The RIM issued a statement, which: Reaffirmed that poverty eradication is an indispensable requirement for sustainable development in Africa Reiterated the commitment of African countries to the JPOI Recalled the commitments made by African countries, including in the MDGs and the JPOI and reaffirmed the NEPAD as the sustainable development framework for Africa Affirmed the need for an enabling international environment premised on the legitimate development priorities of developing countries, and addressing the challenges of financing for development, globalization, and market access Recognized the important role played by civil society and the private sector, and the need to ensure their full participation in achieving sustainable development Called for enhanced partnership between governments, civil society, major groups and the private sector in the implementation of the JPOI

5. 5 Preparations for CSD 15 To help African countries prepare for the May 2007 CSD-15 Policy Session: ECA drafted an African Consensus Agenda reflecting Africa’s priority issues and consensual policy options, taking into account: –Intergovernmental consultations carried out in the framework of the AU –Policy decisions adopted by African Leaders during the 2006-2007 period, including the following high-level policy meetings: Conference of African Ministers in charge of Water and Energy, March 2006; First Conference of African Union Ministers in charge of Electrical Energy, March 2006; Seventeenth Session of the Conference of African Ministers of Industry, June 2006; First African Union Conference of Ministers responsible for Hydrocarbons (Oil and Gas), December 2006; Eighth Ordinary Session of the Assembly of the African Union, January 2007; and ECA participated in the regional perspective session of the IPM in February 2007, bringing to the fore key issues of significance to Africa and related policy options for negotiation at CSD 15

6. 6 Africa’s Consensus Agenda for CSD-15 A. Overview of Issues of significance to Africa Energy –Increasing production, access, efficiency and renewables –Making the biomass sector sustainable –Accelerating energy regional integration Industry –Increasing/improving productivity, environmental performance and investment, including FDI –Moving to less-polluting natural resource intense sectors Air/atmosphere pollution –Microfuding of improvements for SMEs and homes –Adopting regional approaches, best practices in monitoring, and energy efficiency –Increasing and retaining research capacity, skills and infrastructure Climate Change –Enhancing research, policy coherence and integration, access to Marrakech funds and carbon trade, capacities (scientific, human and institutional), international cooperation.. –Supporting and accelerating National Adaptation Programmes of Action (NAPAs)

7. 7 B.Cross-cutting Issues Mobilization of adequate resources, both internally and externally Strengthening of partnerships for the implementation of programmes and projects -- effective bilateral, multilateral and public-private partnerships Creation of adequate policy, legal and institutional frameworks Addressing inadequate science and technology -- low human and institutional capacities, low number of scientists and technologists, decaying university and research facilities, and absence of national innovation systems

8. 8 C.Proposals for Policy and Strategies Energy –Design and implement energy access scale-up mechanisms –Enhance capacity of institutions related to the development of bioenergy –Provide resources and capacities to Regional Economic Communities Industrial Development –Facilitate access to finance and technology transfer and acquisition –Strengthen certification, testing and quality assurance –Develop industrial environmental policy, regulation and guidelines Air/atmosphere Pollution –Establish and foster regional networks of scientists and institutions dealing with air and atmospheric pollution –Develop data collection and observation capability –Promote the penetration of improved wood fuel stoves and cleaner energy resources for cooking and heating Climate Change –Increase the capabilities of countries to carry out assessments of the impacts of Climate Change, develop and implement related policies and programs –Support/accelerate the development and implementation of NAPAs –Establish climate forums to enhance regional cooperation on climate and early warning

9. 9 Conclusion and the Way Forward Under the auspices of the UNCSD Vice-chair for Africa, ECA is reviewing the draft negotiating document for CSD 15 to ensure that Africa’s priorities are well reflected The implementation of the WSSD outcomes and related issues that are being addressed in the context of the MDGs and NEPAD is one the main thrusts of the ECA Sub-programme – “Fostering Food Security and Sustainable Development in Africa with main activities including: –Policy analysis and advocacy - highlight linkages and synergies among the social, economic, and environmental dimensions of sustainable development –Development of tools and analytical materials to promote balanced integration of the different dimensions of SD –Monitoring progress on SD: Sustainable Development Report on Africa, NCSDs, NSSDs, EIA, trade and environment ECA uses a collaborative approach in work on SD to contribute to coordination of activities among different entities at international, regional and sub-regional levels, and coherence in program delivery Work is underway for the next CSD16-17 cycle on agriculture and rural development, land, drought and desertification