COMISSÃO DE AMBIENTE, ORDENAMENTO DO TERRITÓRIO E PODER LOCAL
XII Legislatura – 1ª Sessão legislativa
INTERPARLIAMENTARY COMMITTEE MEETING
European Parliament - national Parliaments
COMMITTEE ON ENVIRONMENT, PUBLIC HEALTH AND FOOD SAFETY
TOWARDS THE RIO+20 SUMMIT
21 March 2012
European Parliament
Room József Antall (2Q2)
11.00 - 16.30
An orientation to the debate
On the occasion of the debate on the preparations towards the Rio+20 Summit the
Committee on Environment, Public Health and Food Safety wishes to put forward
some questions to serve as a guidance and orientation to the debate.
1.
General observations
Mid January 2012, a zero draft of the outcome document, titled "The Future We
Want" was published and initial discussions were held in New York end of January.
The draft includes renewed commitment to sustainable development from the heads
of State and Government, a determination to pursue the green economy in the
context of sustainable development and poverty eradication, and an affirmation of
their resolve to strengthen the institutional framework for sustainable development.
Delegates accepted the zero draft as a good basis for the negotiations but
emphasized that the goal of an ambitious and action-oriented document will require
equally ambitious negotiations in the 145 days between the end of the January
consultations and the first day of Rio+20.
Questions
a. There has been criticism that the zero draft was not ambitious enough and
fell short on the topic equity/fairness. How can the draft be improved in
order to include the necessities of developing countries more?
In spite the role of development countries in the global level processes, it is essential to
consider the necessities of developing countries, towards sustainable development and
green economy.
In order to improve the draft concerning the necessities of developing countries, the
document should include a clear determination to increase employment, in the context
of green economy, sustainable development and poverty eradication.
1
COMISSÃO DE AMBIENTE, ORDENAMENTO DO TERRITÓRIO E PODER LOCAL
XII Legislatura – 1ª Sessão legislativa
b. Since the beginning of the economic crisis, we saw a lot of ambitious policy
proposals for environment protection being watered down in the Council/
Member States - how can an ambitious outcome of Rio+20 be achieved?
To contribute to achieve an ambitious outcome of Rio+20, in the context of
global crises, it must be insistently emphasize that ambitious policy proposals
for environment protection are relevant to economic growth with sustainable
development.
c. The EU proved in Durban that climate diplomacy works and created a
coalition of the willing. Can this positive momentum be carried on to
Rio+20 through bilateral talks and a common position before the
conference?
We believe bilateral talks and a common position of UE on climate change can
contribute before Rio+20 to carry on a coalition of the willing to the
conference.
2.
A Green Economy in the Context of Sustainable Development and
Poverty Eradication
The EU considers that the agreed political document at Rio+20 should be supported
by operational outcomes that should include a "green economy roadmap" with
specific goals, objectives and actions at international level. The zero draft focuses
on establishing Sustainable Development Goals (SDG's) by 2015 in order to
complement and strengthen the Millennium Development Goals (MDG's) that will
expire in 2015.
Questions
a. Should one push for setting goals and targets already at Rio+20? What about
the suggestion to establish SDG's by 2015?
As contribution to end recession and thinking post 2015, it is necessary to push
for the setting goals and targets already at Rio+20.
It is also accurate to establish Sustainable Development Goals (SDG’s) by 2015
in order to complement and strengthen the Millennium Development Goals.
b. In which way could the proposal for SDG's by 2015 serve to complement and
strengthen the MDG's that will expire in 2015?
To complement and strengthen the MDG’s, green economy can be thought of as
one of which is low carbon, resource efficient and socially inclusive, in the
context of the proposal for SDG’s by 2015.
2
COMISSÃO DE AMBIENTE, ORDENAMENTO DO TERRITÓRIO E PODER LOCAL
XII Legislatura – 1ª Sessão legislativa
c. A green economy would have equity and respect for planetary boundaries
as basic principles. Do you have best practice examples of investments
which take into account the role of biodiversity and ecosystem services that
you want to share with other Member States?
It is essential to implement incentives (economic and fiscal measures) to
motivate companies into production facilities with lower environmental impact
and to use natural resources more efficiently and sustainably.
The financing required for a green economy transition can be mobilized by
smart public policy and innovative financing mechanisms.
Trade can drive the exchange of environmentally friendly goods and services,
increasing resources efficiency, generating economic opportunities and
employment, contributing to poverty eradication.
Health is a powerful tool for sustainable economic development as well as in
eradicating poverty and in ensuring an economically equitable and socially
inclusive society.
Healthy ecosystems are also relevant for achieving a green economic transition,
so it’s essential that the economic value of these services are recognized and
captured in the accounts and decision-making of government, the private
sector and consumers.
3.
Institutional Framework for Sustainable Development
On the institutional framework for sustainable development (IFSD), the European
Parliament, the European Commission and the Council have called for an ambitious
reform. Ideas currently under discussion in the multilateral negotiations relate to
strengthening/reforming the IFSD by for example transforming the Commission on
Sustainable Development into a "Sustainable development Council" or by establishing
a UN specialised agency for the environment based on UNEP.
Questions
a. What is your view on how this could be best done? How can the
mainstreaming of Sustainable Development in the various domains the UN is
active in, best be ensured?
The strenghtening/reforming of institutional framework for sustainable
development (IFSD) must be based on reconsiderations of several policy
development levels.
The establishment of a UN specialized agency for the environment based on
UNEP seems to be crucial.
3
COMISSÃO DE AMBIENTE, ORDENAMENTO DO TERRITÓRIO E PODER LOCAL
XII Legislatura – 1ª Sessão legislativa
b. How do you ensure, at national level, mainstreaming of Sustainable
Development in the various policy areas? How do you involve the Financial
and Economic Sector and take the concept of Sustainable Development on
board when taking decisions on for example investments? Do you have
suggestions resulting from best practices at national level which could be
scaled up to the international and multilateral level?
In Portugal, the National Council of the Environment and Sustainable Development /
CNADS was set up in 1997. It was reinforced and d its members increased in 2004.
CNADS is an independent body that aims at advising Government members responsible
for the environment and the sustainable development, public entities and NGOs on all
matters associated with the environment and sustainable development. It is also a
forum for the design and implementation and sustainable development policies. The
tasks of CNADS are: environment policy; strategic plans and programmes for
environmental and sustainable development policies; public participation for decision
making; international agreements (ratification and internal regulatory process); followup of international and EU policies; follow-up of the co-operation policy, mainly with
Portuguese Speaking Countries Community (CPL); follow-up the implementation of the
Framework Law on Environment; to give advice on the National Plan for the
Environment and the National Strategy for the Nature Conservation.
Other side, the Portuguese Environment Agency (APA) is responsible for proposing,
developing and monitoring the implementation of environmental policies, particularly
in the context of integrating the environment into sectorial policies, including health
and transport and in tackling climate change, protection ozone, air quality, prevention
and control of noise, waste recovery and use of soil and other contaminated sites,
prevention and control integrated pollution, prevention of major industrial hazards,
environmental safety and populations, eco-labeling, green purchasing and voluntary
environmental management.
The National Strategy for Sustainable Development (ENDS) (2006-2015) of Portugal has
been a participatory process, based on the sharing of responsibilities between the
Public Administration and the civil society, which assumes a strong commitment of
economic and social stakeholders that is essential for the success of its
implementation, in addition with the increasing of the information and communication
new technologies in this field.
António Ramos Preto
Chairman of Environment, Territorial Planning and Local Government Committee
15 March 2012
4