As the year 2004 drew to a close, the 59th session of the UN General Assembly adopted a number of resolutions and decisions on issues concerning environment and sustainable development, poverty eradication, human settlements, globalization and interdependence, macroeconomic policy, and information and communications technologies for development.

On environment and sustainable development, the General Assembly adopted text on: the integrated management approach to the Caribbean Sea area in the context of sustainable development; the International Meeting to Review the Implementation of the Programme of Action for the Sustainable Development of Small Island Developing States (SIDS); the report of the eighth special session of the UNEP Governing Council; implementation of Agenda 21, the Programme for the Further Implementation of Agenda 21 and the outcomes of the World Summit on Sustainable Development; and activities undertaken during the International Year of Freshwater, 2003, preparations for the International Decade for Action, “Water for Life”, 2005-2015, and further efforts to achieve the sustainable development of water resources. The Assembly also adopted text concerning: international strategy for disaster reduction; international cooperation to reduce the impact of the El Niño phenomenon; natural disasters and vulnerability; protection of global climate for present and future generations of mankind; the UN Convention to Combat Desertification (CCD); the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD); the UN Decade of Education for Sustainable Development; and rendering assistance to the poor mountain countries to overcome obstacles in socio-economic and ecological areas.
On UNEP, the GA emphasizes the need for UNEP to further contribute to sustainable development programmes, to the implementation of Agenda 21 and the Johannesburg Plan of Implementation at all levels, and to the work of the Commission on Sustainable Development. The GA also notes the upcoming consideration of the question of universal membership by the Council/Forum at its 23rd session and, inter alia, requests the Secretary-General to submit a report on the issue to the Assembly for consideration at its 61st session.
On the SIDS International Meeting, the GA decides to hold two days of informal consultations in Mauritius on 8 and 9 January 2005 prior to facilitate preparations for the International Meeting, which is to be held from 10-14 January.
On the international strategy for disaster reduction, the GA calls for strong national strategies for disaster prevention and management, as well as resource sharing, to gain insight into the causes of such catastrophes worldwide.
On natural disasters and vulnerability, the GA stresses the importance of the upcoming World Conference on Disaster Reduction (WCDR) concluding the review of the Yokohama Strategy for a Safer World and its plan of action with a view to updating the guiding framework on disaster reduction. The GA emphasizes that the WCDR should make concrete recommendations to reduce the risks and vulnerabilities of developing countries to disasters, including through the strengthening of national platforms for disaster reduction or the establishment of institutional mechanisms. In the resolution, the GA encourages governments to strengthen capacity-building in the most vulnerable regions, to enable them to address the socio-economic factors that increase vulnerability, and to develop measures that would enable them to prepare for and cope with natural disasters, including those associated with earthquakes and extreme weather. It also encourages the UNFCCC COP and the parties to the Kyoto Protocol to address the adverse effects of climate change, especially in developing countries that were particularly vulnerable.
On the CCD, the GA stresses the importance of implementing the CCD in order to meet internationally agreed development goals, including those contained in the UN Millennium Declaration. The GA calls upon governments to integrate desertification into their plans and strategies for sustainable development, and urges UN bodies, the Bretton Woods institutions and donors to integrate action supporting the Convention into their programmes and strategies to achieve the Millennium Development Goals.
On the CBD, the GA urges States parties to facilitate technology transfer for the effective implementation of the Convention. The GA also stresses the importance of harmonizing the reporting requirements of biodiversity-related conventions, while respecting their independent legal status.
On the UN Decade of Education for Sustainable Development, the GA encourages governments to include measures to implement the Decade in their educational strategies and national development plans, considering the finalized International Implementation Scheme.
Links to further information
UN press release, 22 December 2004
Resolutions of the 59th session of the General Assembly
Linkages GA-59 web resource