16 June 2003
Enhancing Collaboration for Implementation:
A New Programme of Work for the Environmental Management Group
Background
In the post WSSD period, the messages from Governments are consistent and clear:
Strengthen implementation and delivery.
The Johannesburg Plan of Implementation, a major outcome of the WSSD, highlights a
challenging set of issues for the international community to achieve progress towards a
sustainable future for people, countries and the planet Earth. Poverty eradication, changing
unsustainable patterns of consumption and production, protecting the natural resource base of
economic and social development, support to Africa, means of implementation - all of these
areas require actions at all levels to reverse existing negative trends, with the hope to lay the
foundation for a sustainable and prosperous future.
To meet those challenges, more than ever before, concerted efforts of all actors involved,
governments, international organizations and many other stakeholders are necessary. The UN
bodies, funds, programmes and agencies and other international institutions active in the field
of sustainable development must join hands to contribute to implementation.
The Environmental Management Group (EMG) was established by the Secretary-General of
the United Nations for the purpose of enhancing inter-agency coordination in the field of
environment and human settlements, in pursuance of General Assembly resolution 53/242 of
28 July 1999, which was further endorsed by the General Assembly in its resolution 54/217
of 22 December 1999.
The EMG’s mandate was confirmed by recent intergovernmental decisions in the year 2002,
namely those of the 7th Special session of the UNEP Governing Council/Global Ministerial
Environment Forum (Decision SS.VII/1 and annex) and the Johannesburg Plan of
Implementation (paragraph 140 b).
The EMG is designed around an issue-management and problem solving approach, aimed at
finding solutions to important and newly emerging issues on the environment and human
settlements agenda and fostering joint action.
Since its establishment, the Environmental Management Group held four meetings. Issuemanagement groups on harmonization of biodiversity-related reporting, environmental
education and training and waste management and chemicals were established, with a view to
strengthening partnerships among participating organizations in jointly addressing issues of
common interest.
The work of the EMG in the short and medium-term
Bearing in mind the recent developments at intergovernmental forums within the United
Nations, in particular the outcomes of the World Summit on Sustainable Development and
other major conferences such as the recent sessions of the UNEP Governing Council/Global
Ministerial Environment Forum, the 11th Session of the Commission on Sustainable
Development and the UN-HABITAT Governing Council, it appears necessary to give further
consideration to ways and means for enhancing inter-agency collaboration in the fields of
environment and human settlements in the framework of the EMG. There should be a
stronger focus on making the implementation of mandated activities coherent and effective.
Through this process, the Environmental Management Group should become an instrument
that provides opportunities for the participating organizations to share their views or concerns
on issues of common interest, set policy directions to address such issues, convey their views
on certain issues to intergovernmental forums and processes or to other relevant forums,
review progress or identify obstacles, and set a roadmap for the future.
The following suggestions are presented to the Environmental Management Group for its
consideration:
Thematic issues to be addressed in the short-term
Water related issues have been repeatedly stressed at the WSSD, the Third World Water
Forum, and the eleventh Session of the CSD, and will become a focus of ministerial
discussions at the forthcoming special session of the UNEP Governing Council/Global
Ministerial Environment Forum. The Group may wish to consider how it could best
contribute to furthering implementation of the water agenda, and which specific issues in this
area should be addressed.
The Group may wish to suggest other thematic issues of common interest, including the
issues previously addressed by its issue-management groups.
Strategic approaches for the medium-term
Implementation and delivery require appropriate strategies to guide actions. In the context of
the UNEP Governing Council decision on international environmental governance (decision
SS.VII/1), which was endorsed in the Johannesburg Plan of Implementation, two issues, both
relating to means of implementation, may deserve due attention of the Group: the
development by UNEP of an intergovernmental strategic plan on technology support and
capacity building for developing countries, and the modalities of strengthening the scientific
basis of UNEP’s work to address global environmental change. Both require close
consultation with Governments and relevant international organizations. The Group may
wish to address these issues in the medium-term.
In addition, the group may wish to suggest other relevant issues for its medium-term work.
Link with intergovernmental forums and with other coordination mechanisms in the UN
system
In decision SS.VII/1 on international environmental governance governments ask for a clear
reporting relationship between the EMG and the UNEP Governing Council/Global
Ministerial Environment Forum. The group should submit an annual report to the GC/GMEF.
It could hold a meeting back-to-back with the GC/GMEF, which should allow for direct
interaction between Ministers and the members of the EMG. This would provide Ministers
with an opportunity to make recommendations on further issues to be addressed by the EMG
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as well as increase their understanding of the EMG’s work. Through the Executive Director
of UNEP, the Group would also report to the General Assembly, through ECOSOC.
While there is no formal relationship between the EMG and other relevant inter-agency
bodies (CEB, HLCP), the Group should ensure that its work is coherent with the overall
direction given by these bodies and keep them informed about the outcomes of its work.
The Group may wish to present its views on how its efforts would best contribute to the
work of important intergovernmental forums in the fields of environment and human
settlements, or, in turn, how intergovernmental forums with a focus on broader issues, but
with a link to environment or human settlements, could possibly benefit from the work of the
Group.
Civil society and the private sector
The EMG should involve actors who are capable and interested to contribute to developing
practical solutions. In accordance with the Terms of Reference, representatives of relevant
sectors of civil society with a specific expertise related to a selected issue should be invited to
participate in meetings of the EMG and – on the expert level – in the work of the IMGs.
(Examples: IUCN, WWF, WRI, WBCSD, IIED, ICSU, foundations, etc.)
The Group may wish to consider this matter.
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