Call for Input
Canadian Consultations on UN Commission on Sustainable Development
13 (CSD13)
As you may know, the United Nations Commission on Sustainable
Development (UN CSD) was created to monitor progress in the implementation
of Agenda 21 and other outcomes of the 1992 Rio Earth Summit.
It also provides policy guidance for new action to promote sustainable
development around the world. Although its recommendations are
not legally binding, the CSD has become a useful international
forum for consensus-building on sustainable development issues.
It meets annually in New York and its discussions usually focus
on a selected number of key themes.
In previous years, the CSD has covered up to five themes from
Agenda 21. However, at the World Summit on Sustainable Development
(WSSD) in Johannesburg in 2002, the international community called
for the reform of the CSD to turn it into a more effective, implementation-oriented
body. As a result, CSD-11, held in 2003, agreed on a new cycle
of work and work program. The CSD is now composed of a series
of 2-year implementation cycles, themselves composed of a Review
Year/Session in the first year and a Policy Year/Session in the
second. The topics of the current cycle are Water, Sanitation
and Human Settlements, and this year is the Policy Year/Session.
The Thirteenth Session of the Commission (CSD-13) will be held
in New York from April 11 - 22, 2005. In preparation, the UN Secretary
General has prepared three reports, which are posted at: CSD
website.
The draft programme of work for CSD-13, as well as more information
on CSD-13, can also be found on this website. After March 4, the
CSD website will also contain a Chariman's Summary of the Intergovernmental
Preparatory Meeting (IPM) which will attempt to synthesize the
three Secretary General's papers.
Meanwhile, the federal government is preparing the Canadian
position for CSD-13, and we welcome the views of provincial and
territorial governments, First Nations, and civil society. To
facilitate consultation, we have prepared a Canadian position
paper on Water, Sanitation and Human Settlements. The paper can
be found on the Sustainable Development Website of the Department
of Foreign Affairs, in the week of February 21, on the Foreign
Affairs website.
You are invited to participate in a consultation meeting with
federal government officials in preparation for CSD-13. The meeting
will be held on Wednesday, March 16, 2005 from 2:00pm to 4:00pm
at the Department of Foreign Affairs, 111 Sussex Drive, Ottawa.
We would be grateful if you could confirm in advance your participation
in the meeting with Julanar Green of the Environmental and Sustainable
Development and Relations Division at (613) 996-1927. If you cannot
attend the meeting but would like to participate by teleconference,
also please contact Ms. Green. Further information will be provided
closer to the event to those who have confirmed their participation.
Given the new structure of the CSD in which this is a Policy
Year/Session, there will be negotiations at CSD-13. Therefore,
we will be consulting on Canada’s negotiating position.
Through the above process, you will be able to contribute your
ideas to the development of the Canadian position at CSD-13.
There is also an opportunity for you to contribute to the positions
that will be put forward by Major Groups at CSD-13. Major Groups,
as defined in Agenda 21, include the following: Women, Children
and Youth, Indigenous People, Non-governmental Organizations,
Local Authorities, Workers and Trade Unions, Business and Industry,
the Scientific and Technological Communities, and Farmers.
If you would like to contribute your ideas to the interventions
for the Major Group(s) to which you belong, please refer to the
CSD
website or contact Ms. Federica
Pietracci of the CSD Secretariat.
Should you have any questions about the consultation process
for CSD-13, please contact:
Ms. Julanar Green
Environmental and Sustainable Development and Relations Division
(613) 996-1927
Or Gary Pringle
Deputy Director
Environmental and Sustainable Development Relations Division
(613) 996-1927
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