United Nations: Experiences of Harmony With Nature

http://motherearthrights.org/2010/08/18/harmony-with-nature-report-of-the-un-secretary-general/

B. Experiences in promoting harmony with nature in the 21st century through sustainable development

67. Since UNCED, countries around the world have stepped up to the challenge of achieving sustainable development. A common theme of the initiatives reported to the Secretariat on harmony with nature has been an emphasis on legislation. In addition, Major Groups also offered their perspective on the matter, highlighting the need to strengthen stewardship of the global commons. The following are some indicative examples of implementation initiatives:

68. Reducing environmental degradation and preserving forests are among Argentina’s priorities. Argentina is promoting the use of solar energy and alternative energies based on specific climate conditions and resource endowments of rural areas. Micro financing is also being advanced as a means to combat poverty.

69. The New Policy of the Foreign Affairs Ministry of the Plurinational State of Bolivia (27/08/07) embodies the concept of well-being, not only in terms of income but most importantly respect for cultural identity, community and harmony among human beings and between human beings and nature. Essential components of this policy are based on indigenous peoples’ vision. In early 2009, a new Constitution was promulgated on the basis of such principles.

70. On the basis of the Covenant of Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, Chile highlights that the right to health includes a large range of socio-economic factors that promote a healthy life. This right also extends to a healthy environment, food security, nutrition, access to drinkable water and adequate sanitary conditions.

71. Cuba’s Environmental Law (Article 4g of Law 81 of 1 July 1997) embraces sustainable development planning as the basic concept and grants “that environmental protection be included as a requisite in all development programmes, projects and plans”.

72. Chapter seven of Ecuador’s Constitution of 2008 states that Nature’s Rights should be taken into account in all planning activities. The rights of Nature include the right to have its existence respected in an integral manner, including the maintenance and regeneration of its cycles, structures, functions and evolutionary processes, as well as the right to restoration. The State applies the precautionary principle and has the power to restrict those activities which could lead to the loss of species, the destruction of ecosystems or the permanent alteration of natural cycles.

73. El Salvador places emphasis on regional cooperation to address natural disasters which obstruct sustainable development, including through the establishment of a regional fund to prevent and mitigate natural disasters and to assist in the reconstruction of countries affected by them. It also refers to the promotion of renewable energy and energy efficiency as tools to promote sustainable development.

74. Mexico has set up a programme for environmental education for sustainability between the Secretariat of Environment and Natural Resources and the Secretariat of Public Education.

75. Actions to mitigate climate change through sustainable economic growth and lowering carbon emissions are one of Peru’s top priorities. Peru has committed itself to stop deforestation of the natural primary forests by 2021.

76. To ensure the sustainability of natural and human resources, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines is constantly reviewing its laws and regulations to reaffirm links between Mother Nature and food security, poverty eradication, and environmental sustainability.

77. In order to reduce the impact of mining activities in Gabon, environmental and social impact assessments are required through the different stages of mining activities. In order to combat chemical pollution of soils and aquifers due to plastic waste, Gabon has banned the production, import and usage of plastic bags derived from oil and has replaced them with biodegradable bags.

78. Mali is currently engaged in the implementation of a range of projects such as promoting natural sites, agro forestry preservation and the sustainable management of land.

79. The environmental law reform in South Africa has been rooted in the need for improved access to and the sound management of South Africa’s natural resource base. The Constitution guarantees the right to an environment that is not harmful to health or well-being, and the right to have the environment protected while promoting justifiable economic and social development.

80. In preserving and conserving nature for sustainable development, Article 59 of the Constitution of the Kingdom of Cambodia stipulates an obligation of the State to protect the environment, keep natural resources balanced, and manage soundly all natural resources.

81. As the incoming chair of COP10 of the Convention of Biological Diversity, Japan focuses on addressing post-2010 targets to improve the state of biodiversity from the current level as well as to increase sustainably the benefits of ecosystem services.

82. Italy emphasizes that Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) should be promoted as a key policy tool to foster respect for and understanding of different cultures and embrace contributions from them. Indigenous peoples should be a partner in the development of educational programmes. In the framework of the Marrakech Task Force on Education for Sustainable Consumption, the document “Here and Now” summarizes the importance of teaching respect for diversity of cultures and making sustainable lifestyle choices.

83. Early in 2007, Montenegro adopted the National Strategy on Sustainable Development promoting integration of ecological, economic and social principles that will guide future development of the country.

84. Spain supports a programme of work on a legal article covering traditional knowledge of indigenous and local communities with traditional lifestyles, recognizing the relevance to the conservation and sustainable use of biological diversity. It also stresses the importance that ecosystems represent natural capital that generates essential services for human welfare.

85. In the United States, in October 2009, the President signed Executive Order 13514, which has far-reaching ramifications for federal energy conservation and environmental policy. The order includes requirements for federal agencies to improve energy efficiency, mitigation of greenhouse gas emissions, water conservation, green procurement, waste management, and recycling.

86. The European Union recognizes that the natural resource base for human life and development is in great danger and that fundamental changes in the way societies produce and consume are key for achieving sustainable development. Effective protection and sustainable use of global biodiversity is essential for the social, economic and environmental development of all.

87. Major Groups highlight the notion of the “global commons”: all material and intellectual resources have to be administered for the good of all mankind, under a perspective of shared and joint ownership. In 2009, Elinor Ostrom became the first woman to be awarded the Nobel Prize in Economic Sciences, in partnership with Oliver Williamsom, for her work on the conceptualization and empirical investigation of institutions for management of the common property resources.

88. UN Member States have expressed in GA Resolution A/RES/64/236 their determination to renew political commitment to sustainable development, a commitment which comes not a minute too soon. For, as Eric Chivian writes, “On the basis of habitat destruction alone, as many as two thirds of all species on Earth could be lost by the end of this century, a proportion of lost species that matches the great extinction event, 65 million years ago, that wiped out the dinosaurs. That event was most likely the result of a giant asteroid striking the Earth; this one we alone are causing.”39 By committing, therefore, to sustainable development, Member States have embraced a holistic approach to healing the Earth, which, like holistic medicine, addresses causes rather than symptons.

89. In May 2010, at the 18th Session of the Commission on Sustainable Development, governments acknowledged that the world’s depletion of certain natural resources and rapid environmental degradation are the result of unsustainable consumption and production patterns which have led to adverse consequences not only for the Earth but for humanity’s health and overall well being. Therefore, in order to meet the basic needs of a growing population within the Earth’s limited resources, there is a need to devise a more sustainable model for production, consumption and the economy as a whole.

90. The EU has supported sustainable consumption and production through initiatives such as the SWITCH-Asia Programme to promote economic prosperity and reduce poverty in Asia while encouraging sustainable growth with reduced environmental impact. In addition, since the mid-1990s many EU member states have developed ‘product panels’ – interactive and cooperative approaches among different stakeholders to develop and disseminate cleaner and more eco-efficient products on the market.

91. Switzerland has provided funds to UNIDO over the past decade to set up and support National Cleaner Production Centres in about a dozen countries. This joint UNIDO-UNEP Programme is an example of putting sustainable consumption and production into practice and responds to a request by developing countries for capacity building and technology cooperation and transfer. Caribbean SIDS have benefited from this initiative.

92. In an unprecedented initiative, Yasuni-ITT, Ecuador has decided to abstain indefinitely from exploiting oil reserves estimated at 846 million barrels in the ITT field equalling 20% of the national oil reserves. In exchange, Ecuador will receive international financial aid to the Yasuni Fund, an international trust fund to be administered by UNDP. By undertaking this initiative, Ecuador takes a holistic approach to biodiversity conservation, combating poverty, promoting social development and the rights of indigenous peoples, and proposes a new model of cooperation between developed and developing countries based not on the extraction of non-renewable resources but on providing incentives to environmental stewardship that supplies global public goods like biodiversity conservation and climate change mitigation.

93. For Pacific Small Islands Developing States (SIDS), a successful initiative has been the promotion of renewable energy and the establishment of the Asia-Pacific Regional Help Desk on Sustainable Consumption and Production in 2006.

94. In the Asia-Pacific region, the Asia-Pacific Partnership (APP) on Clean Development and Climate is an initiative to accelerate the development and deployment of clean energy technologies. APP partners Australia, Canada, China, India, Japan, Republic of Korea, and the US have agreed to work with private sector partners to meet goals for energy security, air pollution reduction, and climate change mitigation in ways that promote sustainable economic growth and poverty reduction.

95. Civil society groups have been very effective in bridging realities on the ground with political interest and actions on sustainable consumption and production. Together with the academic community, they have played an important role in raising awareness, developing tools (such as life cycle analysis), facilitating consumer-led projects or certification programmes, and initiating practical local actions. They have contributed to the gradual mainstreaming of sustainability principles in modern lifestyles.

96. The private sector plays a critical role in reengineering the supply and production chain for sustainability by focusing towards enabling the appropriate changes in the production life-cycle for increased eco-efficiency, including R&D into environmentally sound technologies, eco-efficient manufacturing, green marketing, and end-of-life management.