March 2003: Informal consultations convened from 24-26 March 2003 at UN Headquarters in New York to continue preparations for the 11th session of the Commission on Sustainable Development (CSD-11).

Discussions focused on: the CSD’s future Programme of Work; the future organization and methods of work for the CSD; how to enhance contributions from and participation of various implementation actors; and the CSD’s role as a focal point for partnerships. Much of the discussion focused on suggestions contained in the UN Secretary-General’s report entitled “Follow-up to Johannesburg and the Future Role of the CSD – The Implementation Track” (E/CN.17/2003/3).

On the CSD’s future Programme of Work, comments included suggestions that the CSD focus on those aspects of sustainable development where it can add value, that it support implementation and provide for active involvement of all actors responsible for implementation, and that its work programme should attract the involvement of all ministers with portfolios relevant to sustainable development. Issues that require additional discussion include priority areas for the work programme, with the WEHAB areas (water and sanitation, energy, health, agricultural productivity, and biodiversity and ecosystem management), sustainable consumption and production patterns, poverty eradication and sustainable globalization, including corporate social and environmental responsibility, among the proposed options.

Comments regarding the CSD’s future organization and methods of work included calls to avoid a proliferation of meetings and to recognize and support the regional and sub-regional dimension of implementation. A suggestion for two-year “Implementation Cycles” would have a “Review Year,” during which implementation progress would be assessed, and a “Policy Year,” during which measures to overcome constraints and gaps and new challenges and opportunities in implementation would be discussed. Participants stressed that reporting to the CSD should be comprehensive and based on national reports, regional and sub-regional inputs and contributions from international organizations, major groups and other stakeholders. Two options to guide theme selection for CSD sessions are whether the theme was previously addressed by the CSD and the theme’s relevance for sustainable development. Questions about the timing of Ministerial Segments, the role and modalities of proposed expert forums, the need for creating sub-commissions and thematic task forces, and the role of country-led initiatives were also discussed.

On enhancing contributions from and participation of various implementation actors, speakers stressed the need: to promote coherence, synergies and coordination among all implementation actors with a view to supporting implementation; for all UN funds and programmes, specialized agencies and other organizations of the UN system, including financial and trade institutions and Regional Commissions, to be more actively involved in the work of the CSD; to monitor progress towards implementation by all implementation actors; to achieve a better balance in representation of major groups from the “North” and the “South;” and for scientific contributions to the CSD to be enhanced with a view to supporting implementation and providing an informed basis for decision-making. Some delegations felt there was a need to strengthen inter-agency arrangements aimed at supporting implementation and coordination, while others questioned the rationale for establishing any additional inter-agency arrangements or collaborative groups.

On the CSD’s role as a “focal point” for partnerships, speakers noted the need for a transparent, participatory and credible monitoring mechanism on the partnerships, through such means as voluntary reporting, partnership reviews and other partnership-related activities during CSD meetings. Some noted that CSD efforts on partnerships should promote a more balanced contribution of partnerships to implementation (balanced both geographically and in terms of covering all programme areas of the WSSD Plan of Implementation). Some stressed the importance of agreeing on parameters to define partnerships while others felt that that it could be done by application of the Bali guidelines. The need to explore modalities for making partnerships accountable for all involved was also raised. The Earth Negotiations Bulletin briefing note outlining these discussions in detail can be found at: http://enb.iisd.org/linkages/csd/csd11/CSD_Briefing_Note_march_2003.html